Part 64 (1/2)
Conolly nodded a.s.sent; and they went to a house on the doorstep of which Douglas's man was waiting, and ascended to the front drawing-room.
”Now, sir,” said Douglas, without inviting his guests to sit down.
Conolly alone took off his hat. Marmaduke went aside, and looked out of the window.
”I know the circ.u.mstances that have led to your return,” said Conolly; ”so we need not go into that. I want you, however, to a.s.sist me on one point. Do you know what Marian's pecuniary position is at present?'
”I decline to admit that it concerns me in any way.”
”Of course not. But it concerns me, as I do not wish that she should be without money in a foreign city. She has telegraphed a question about her property to Miss McQuinch. That by itself is nothing; but her new address, which I first saw on a letter this morning, happens to be known to me as that of a rather shabby lodging-house.”
”I know nothing of it.”
”I do: it means that she is poor. I can guess at the sum she carried with her to America. Now, if you will be good enough to tell me whether you have ever given her money; if so, how much; and what her expenditure has been, you will enable me to estimate her position at present.”
”I do not know that you have any right to ask such questions.”
”I do not a.s.sert any right to ask them. On the contrary, I have explained their object. I shall not press them, if you think that an answer will in any way compromise you.”
”I have no fear of being compromised. None whatever.”
Conolly nodded, and waited for an answer.
”I may say that my late trip has cost me a considerable sum. I paid all the expenses; and Miss--Mrs. Conolly did not, to my knowledge, disburse a single fraction. She did not ask me to give her money. Had she done so, I should have complied at once.”
”Thank you. Thats all right: she will be able to hold out until she hears from us. Good-afternoon.”
”Allow me to add, sir, before you go,” said Douglas, a.s.serting himself desperately against Conolly's absolutely sincere disregard of him and preoccupation with Marian, ”that Mrs. Conolly has been placed in her present position entirely through her own conduct. I repudiate the insinuation that I have deserted her in a foreign city; and I challenge inquiry on the point.”
”Quite so, quite so,” a.s.sented Conolly, carelessly. ”Good-bye, Lind.”
And he took his hat and went out.
”By George!” said Marmaduke, admiringly, ”he did that d.a.m.ned well--_d.a.m.ned_ well. Look here, old man: take my advice and clear out for another year or so. You cant stay here. As a looker-on, I see most of the game; and thats my advice to you as a friend.”
Douglas, whose face had reddened and reddened with successive rushes of blood until it was now purple, lost all self-control at Marmaduke's commiserating tone. ”I will see whether I cannot put him in the wrong,”
he burst out, in the debased voice of an ign.o.bly angry man. ”Do you think I will let him tell the world that I have been thrown over and fooled?”
”Thats your own story, isnt it? At least, I understood you to say so as we came along.”
”Let him say so, and I'll thrash him like, a dog in the street.
I'll----”
”Whats the use of thras.h.i.+ng a man who will simply hand you over to the police? and quite right, too! What rot!”
”We shall see. We shall see.”
”Very well. Do as you like. You may twist one another's heads off for what I care. He has had the satisfaction of putting you into a rage, at all events.”
”I am not in a rage.”