Part 40 (2/2)
”And what's your opinion?” asked Waymark.
”I couldn't see the girl very well,” said the old man coldly.
”She hasn't quite a fortnight to wait.”
”No.”
”You're sure Helter will do all that can be done?”
”Yes.”
Mr. Woodstock nodded his head, and walked off by himself.
Julian Casti was ill. With difficulty he had dragged himself to the court, and his sufferings as he sat there were horribly evident on his white face. Waymark met him just as Mr. Woodstock walked off; and the two went home together by omnibus, not speaking on the way.
”She will be convicted,” was Julian's first utterance, when he had sat for a few minutes in Waymark's room, whilst Waymark himself paced up and down. The latter turned, and saw that tears were on his friend's hollow cheeks.
”Did you sleep better last night?” he asked.
”Good G.o.d, no! I never closed my eyes. That's the third night without rest. Waymark, get me an opiate of some kind, or I shall kill myself; and let me sleep here.”
”What will your wife say?”
”What do I care what she says!” cried Julian, with sudden excitement, his muscles quivering, and his cheeks flaming all at once. ”Don't use that word 'wife,' it is profanation; I can't bear it! If I see her to-night, I can't answer for what I may do. Curse her to all eternity!”
He sank beck in exhaustion.
”Julian,” said Waymark, using his friend's first name by exception, ”if this goes on, you will be ill. What the deuce shall we do then?”
”No, I shall not be ill. It will be all right if I can get sleep.”
He was silent for a little, then spoke, with his eyes on the ground.
”Waymark, is this true they say about her--about the former time?”
”Yes; it is true.”
Waymark in turn was silent.
”I suppose,” he continued presently, ”I owe you an apology.”
”None. It was right of you to act as you did.”
He was going to say something else, but checked himself. Waymark noticed this, watched his face for a moment, and spoke with some earnestness.
”But it was in that only I misled you. Do you believe me when I repeat that she and I were never anything but friends!”
Julian looked up with a gleam of grat.i.tude in his eyes.
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