Part 13 (1/2)
The imp of irony continued to play about De Gollyer's eyes and slightly twitching lips.
”Quite so--quite so,” he said. ”Of course you know, dear boy, you weren't always so--so lonely--the old days--you surprise me.”
The memory of his romance all at once washed away the bitterness in Lightbody. He returned, sat down, oppressed, crushed.
”You know, Jim,” he said solemnly, ”she never did this, never in the world, not of her own free will, never in her right mind. She's been hypnotized, some one has gotten her under his power--some scoundrel.
No--I'll not harm her, I'll not hurt a hair of her head--but when I meet _him_--”
”By the way, whom do you suspect?” said De Gollyer, who had long withheld the question.
”Whom? Whom do I suspect?” exclaimed Lightbody, astounded. ”I don't know.”
”Impossible!”
”How do I know? I never doubted her a minute.”
”Yes, yes--still?”
”Whom do I suspect? I don't know.” He stopped and considered. ”It might be--three men.”
”Three men!” exclaimed De Gollyer, who smiled as only a bachelor could smile at such a moment.
”I don't know which--how should I know? But when I do know--when I meet him! I'll spare her--but--but when we meet--we two--when my hands are on his throat--”
He was on his feet again, the rage of dishonor ready to flame forth. De Gollyer, putting his arm about him, recalled him with abrupt, military sternness.
”Steady, steady again, dear old boy. Buck up now--get hold of yourself.”
”Jim, it's awful!”
”It's tough--very tough!”
”Out of a clear sky--everything gone!”
”Come, now, walk up and down a bit--do you good.”
Lightbody obeyed, locking his arms behind his back, his eyes on the floor.
”Everything smashed to bits!”
”You adored her?” questioned De Gollyer in an indefinable tone.
”I adored her!” replied Lightbody explosively.
”Really now?”
”I adored her. There's nothing left now--nothing--nothing.”
”Steady.”
Lightbody, at the window, made another effort, controlled himself and said, as a man might renounce an inheritance: