Part 20 (1/2)
”That does not satisfy me.”
”My dear old fellow,” exclaimed Jack, stretching out his hand, ”you--you understand; I cannot--I'm unable to give any.”
”Why?”
”Because it is impossible.”
”Do you love her?” asked Hugh fiercely.
”Love her!” the other echoed, with a short laugh. ”I swear to you, upon my oath, I hate her! Have I not already long ago expressed my opinion?”
”Is that still unchanged?”
”Quite--intensified rather than moderated.”
”Well, perhaps I have been a trifle too hasty, Jack. It seems that you know much of her past. Tell me, what was the object of your interview?”
He was silent. Presently he said--
”Hugh, you are an old friend, and I wish I were at liberty to tell you, but I regret I am not. Request no explanation, and rest a.s.sured that Valerie and myself are not lovers, and, further, that we never were.”
”Are you aware that Valerie and my late brother were acquainted?”
Trethowen asked suddenly.
”How did you discover that?” exclaimed the artist in astonishment.
”Then you appear to know that she was a friend of his,” remarked Hugh dryly.
”No; I--it's the first I've heard of it. Who told you?”
”I want to know whether it's a fact or not,” persisted his friend.
”I don't know,” he replied sullenly.
”You mean, you positively refuse to tell me?”
”No; it is inability.”
The two men continued their conversation for a short time longer, then Hugh left and returned to his chambers, not, however, before the warm friends.h.i.+p which had previously existed between them had been resumed.
That evening Jacob handed his master a telegram from Valerie. She had evidently made a sudden resolve, and had lost no time in carrying it into effect, for the message read--
”_As you appear to doubt my explanation I have decided to leave England for the present. If you desire to write, a letter to 46, Avenue de la Toison d'Or, Brussels, will always find me_.”
With a prolonged whistle he sank into his chair, staring aimlessly at the indistinct words on the pink paper which he held between his fingers.
He was half inclined to believe he had misjudged her.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN.
ON CORNISH CLIFFS.