Part 54 (1/2)

He had not waited very long when his heart bounded as he caught sight of Edith coming down the street and escorted by a handsome, manly fellow, whose beaming face and adoring eyes plainly betrayed his secret to the jealous watcher, who gnashed his teeth in fury at the sight.

The happy, unconscious couple soon disappeared within an office building, whereupon Correlli went back to his lodgings to lay his plans for future operations.

Some hours later, while he was conversing with his landlady in her pretty parlor, he was startled to see Edith's champion of the morning mounting the steps of the house.

Like a flash he seemed to comprehend the object of his visit there; but he was puzzled to understand how it was possible for either Edith or him to know that he or Giulia had ever lived there.

A few rapid words were sufficient to reveal the situation to his landlady, to whom he promised a liberal reward if she would implicitly follow his directions.

The result we know; and, although his bribe had been a heavy one, he did not begrudge the money, since he believed he had thus securely fortified himself against all attacks from the enemy.

Later in the day he attempted to dog the young lawyer's steps, hoping thus to ferret out Edith's hiding place; but nothing satisfactory resulted, for Roy, after his hard and somewhat disappointing day, simply repaired to his club, where, after partaking of his dinner and smoking a cigar to soothe his nerves, he retired to rest.

But the next morning, feeling secure of his position, Emil Correlli boldly presented himself in his rival's office and demanded of him Edith's address.

Roy was prepared for him, for his fruitless visit to Giulia's former landlady had aroused his suspicions that Monsieur Correlli was in the city.

Therefore he had resolved neither to evade nor parley with him, but boldly defy the man, by acknowledging himself the wronged girl's champion and legal adviser.

”I cannot give you Miss Allandale's address,” he quietly responded to his visitor's demand.

”Do you mean to imply that you do not know it?” he questioned, arrogantly.

”Not at all, sir; the lady is under my protection, as my client; therefore, in her interest I refuse to reveal her place of residence,”

Roy coolly responded.

”But she is my wife, and I have a right to know where she is,” said the would-be husband, his anger flaming up hotly at being thus balked in his desires.

”Your wife?” repeated the young lawyer, in an incredulous tone, but growing white about the mouth from the effort he made to retain command of himself, as the obnoxious term fell from the villain's lips.

”Certainly--I claim her as such; my right to do so cannot be questioned.”

”There may be a difference of opinion regarding that matter,” Roy calmly rejoined.

”But we were publicly married on the twenty-fifth.”

”Ah! but there are circ.u.mstances under which even such a ceremony can have no legal significance.”

The fiery Italian was no match for the lawyer in that cool, calm mood, and his anger increased as he realized it.

”But I have my certificate, and can produce plenty of witnesses to prove my statements,” he retorted.

”The court will decide whether your evidence is sufficient to substantiate your claim,” Mr. Bryant composedly remarked.

”The court?--will she take the matter into court?--will she dare create such a scandal?” exclaimed the man, in a startled tone.

”I do not feel at liberty, even had I the inclination, to reveal any points in my client's case,” coldly replied the young lawyer. ”This much I will say, however,” he added, sternly, ”I shall leave nothing undone to free her from a tie that is both hateful and fraudulent.”

”I warn you that you will have a battle to fight that will cost you something,” snarled the baffled villain.