Part 26 (1/2)
”What? Giving way to sentiment, now we have gone so far!” he exclaimed.
”It's all nonsense. To think of throwing up the game now would be sheer folly. Such a chance as the present does not always fall to our lot; therefore, it is only right, in our own interests, that we should take advantage of it. If you really love him--well, it will, perhaps, add to the realism of the incident, and won't do much harm to either of you. But then, you've loved others before--in fact, you loved me once-- yet now I'm nothing in your eyes beyond a willing a.s.sistant in your various little affairs. No,” he continued bitterly, ”you have no real affection for any one. I am able to speak from personal experience.
Yet you would bar our way and wreck our chance of making our fortunes, because you fancy you've fallen in love with this a.s.s of an Englishman?
You must be mad to think of such a thing.”
”You misunderstand me,” she said, her beauty heightened by the flush of anger that suffused her face. ”Although I have neither intention nor desire to depart from the plan already laid down, I regret that it will be necessary to resort to the extreme measure in order to accomplish our purpose. That is all. As for your suggestion, it shall be carried out.
You will go to Spa to-night, if you think there is no danger in the visit.”
”Don't trouble yourself. I shall run no risk. You get him to play, then leave the rest to me. Within a week the money shall be yours.
What do you think of the suggestion of making him defray the cost of his own misfortune, eh?” he asked, laughing.
”Decidedly ingenious, but it won't work!” shouted a voice in English, causing them to start.
There was a rustling among the thick bushes behind them, and next second Jack Egerton emerged into the path.
”Why are you here, spying upon us?” demanded Pierre, springing to his feet, and a.s.suming a threatening att.i.tude.
”Merely for my own information,” replied the artist, with perfect _sang-froid_.
”Then, I hope you have obtained the knowledge you desire,” Valerie said, her eyes flas.h.i.+ng angrily.
”I have ascertained the depth of your vile scheme, if that is what you mean,” he cried. ”You little thought I should keep observation upon your movements. For a fortnight I've been watching you in Brussels as closely as a cat watches a mouse. The ingenious tricks I learned under your tuition stood me in good stead, and I have now seen your duplicity, and discovered the extent of your infamy. You are playing the old game, the--”
”My affairs do not concern you!” she cried, stamping her foot angrily.
”My friend's interests are my own.”
”Your friend--bah!”
”Yes; I repeat it. I have overheard more than one of your interesting conversations, and am quite aware of your nefarious intention. You are using your beauty to lure him to his ruin.”
”Quite heroic!” sneered Pierre. ”This is indeed interesting.”
”Before I have finished you'll probably find it more interesting, and to your cost,” he replied fiercely. Then, turning to mademoiselle, he said: ”You think I fear you, but you make a huge mistake. When we last met you threatened me with exposure if I dare tell him what I knew of your past.”
”I did, and I mean it!” she screamed, with an imprecation in French.
”Thwart me, and I'll show you no mercy.”
”Then you will have an opportunity of exhibiting your vindictiveness,”
he observed calmly.
”What do you mean? If self-conceit did not furnish its own buoyancy, some men would never be able to carry their load.”
”I mean that before to-morrow Hugh Trethowen will be upon his guard; he will understand the deep and complicated game you and your jail-birds of Montmartre are playing.”
”You--you dare not breathe a word to him.”
She spoke defiantly, her lips compressed, and her hands tightly clenched.