Part 103 (1/2)

Sir Patrick looked round at Blanche. Her face was hidden in her hands.

Her step-mother was vainly appealing to her to compose herself.

In the moment of silence that followed, Mr. Moy interfered in the interests of his client.

”I waive my claim, Sir Patrick, to put any questions on my side. I merely desire to remind you, and to remind the company present, that all that we have just heard is mere a.s.sertion--on the part of two persons strongly interested in extricating themselves from a position which fatally compromises them both. The marriage which they deny I am now waiting to prove--not by a.s.sertion, on my side, but by appeal to competent witnesses.”

After a brief consultation with her own solicitor, Lady Lundie followed Mr. Moy, in stronger language still.

”I wish you to understand, Sir Patrick, before you proceed any farther, that I shall remove my step-daughter from the room if any more attempts are made to harrow her feelings and mislead her judgment. I want words to express my sense of this most cruel and unfair way of conducting the inquiry.”

The London lawyer followed, stating his professional approval of his client's view. ”As her ladys.h.i.+p's legal adviser,” he said, ”I support the protest which her ladys.h.i.+p has just made.”

Even Captain Newenden agreed in the general disapproval of Sir Patrick's conduct. ”Hear, hear!” said the captain, when the lawyer had spoken.

”Quite right. I must say, quite right.”

Apparently impenetrable to all due sense of his position, Sir Patrick addressed himself to Mr. Moy, as if nothing had happened.

”Do you wish to produce your witnesses at once?” he asked. ”I have not the least objection to meet your views--on the understanding that I am permitted to return to the proceedings as interrupted at this point.”

Mr. Moy considered. The adversary (there could be no doubt of it by this time) had something in reserve--and the adversary had not yet shown his hand. It was more immediately important to lead him into doing this than to insist on rights and privileges of the purely formal sort. Nothing could shake the strength of the position which Mr. Moy occupied. The longer Sir Patrick's irregularities delayed the proceedings, the more irresistibly the plain facts of the case would a.s.sert themselves--with all the force of contrast--out of the mouths of the witnesses who were in attendance down stairs. He determined to wait.

”Reserving my right of objection, Sir Patrick,” he answered, ”I beg you to go on.”

To the surprise of every body, Sir Patrick addressed himself directly to Blanche--quoting the language in which Lady Lundie had spoken to him, with perfect composure of tone and manner.

”You know me well enough, my dear,” he said, ”to be a.s.sured that I am incapable of willingly harrowing your feelings or misleading your judgment. I have a question to ask you, which you can answer or not, entirely as you please.”

Before he could put the question there was a momentary contest between Lady Lundie and her legal adviser. Silencing her ladys.h.i.+p (not without difficulty), the London lawyer interposed. He also begged leave to reserve the right of objection, so far as _his_ client was concerned.

Sir Patrick a.s.sented by a sign, and proceeded to put his question to Blanche.

”You have heard what Arnold Brinkworth has said, and what Miss Silvester has said,” he resumed. ”The husband who loves you, and the sisterly friend who loves you, have each made a solemn declaration. Recall your past experience of both of them; remember what they have just said; and now tell me--do you believe they have spoken falsely?”

Blanche answered on the instant.

”I believe, uncle, they have spoken the truth!”

Both the lawyers registered their objections. Lady Lundie made another attempt to speak, and was stopped once more--this time by Mr. Moy as well as by her own adviser. Sir Patrick went on.

”Do you feel any doubt as to the entire propriety of your husband's conduct and your friend's conduct, now you have seen them and heard them, face to face?”

Blanche answered again, with the same absence of reserve.

”I ask them to forgive me,” she said. ”I believe I have done them both a great wrong.”

She looked at her husband first--then at Anne. Arnold attempted to leave his chair. Sir Patrick firmly restrained him. ”Wait!” he whispered. ”You don't know what is coming.” Having said that, he turned toward Anne.

Blanche's look had gone to the heart of the faithful woman who loved her. Anne's face was turned away--the tears were forcing themselves through the worn weak hands that tried vainly to hide them.

The formal objections of the lawyers were registered once more. Sir Patrick addressed himself to his niece for the last time.