Part 9 (1/2)
”As you like. But with regard to the gun, I should have thought that you could have guessed how it was--but no, you always mistrust me instead--the Jew. Don't you know that the dead man was a servant in my house? Well, I left the two guns in my study, and he, wanting to shoot himself, stole one, that's all”.
”It was _he_ shot himself?”
”Why, who else? You don't suppose Richard shot him! You are as cool as they make them”.
”Well, that was how it was! But couldn't you say that at the police-court--?”
”I am _going_ to at the big trial, of course. But I was ill, am ill now, and here have I been running about all day on your brother's behalf, and dead tired--and ill, and all--and you won't let me have a rest in the carriage--”
”Well, as you put it in that way...” she said.
So they walked to a motor-brougham, sat within, and as they commenced to talk again, the brougham moved.
”Tell me”, said Frankl, ”have you mentioned to anyone that you had given the guns to me?”
”I told Richard's solicitor this morning--”
”That was horribly imprudent, without consulting me!”
”I think I have been silent long enough, don't you? I didn't mention your name, but--”
”Oh, you didn't mention my name! That's all right, then! Look here, do you know--?”
”Well?”
”I believe you love me in your heart. Can't help yourself”.
”Oh, Mr. Frankl, do I look as if I was in the mood for that kind of fun to-night, a poor wretch like me, steeped in misery, my G.o.d knows”.
”_I_ love _you_!”
He suddenly grasped her wrist, his eyes blazing.
”Stop--let me get out of this--” she said.
”Wait!--I give you your chance!--Listen: I am not a man whose mind you can read right off like a book, I twist like an eel, I am deep, I am tricky, and I never yet met the man that I didn't hoodwink. Ninety-nine per cent of what I say is a lie; even when it is the truth, it is a lie just the same. But at this particular moment I am talking the G.o.d's truth: I want you! You shall be my little girl! Chuck Richard!--chuck the swine's-fles.h.!.+--I'll take you right away--to Paris--this very night--”
She had arisen, alarmed by his hissed fury. ”But, you are stark, staring, raving mad”, she said proudly, ”that is what you are”.
Frankl struck the side of the brougham, it flew, and Margaret tottered backward with an exclamation. The next moment she sent forth a scream, the grip of Frankl on her wrist agonizing her bones.
”Where are we going?” she cried out.
”I gave you your chance!” was Frankl's fierce answer.
”Let me get out!--you must be a wretch--to take advantage--”
He put his mouth to her ear till it touched. ”Your nice Richard flogged me like a dog! I felt the cuts to the marrow of my d.a.m.ned soul! Now I've got him in the hollow of this hand! Why, you helped me! you helped me!