Part 43 (1/2)
Her argument was conclusive. A few minutes, and he had apparently decided.
”Well, if you compel me, I suppose I must tell you,” said he, dropping into a hoa.r.s.e whisper. ”If I do, you'll promise never to repeat it?”
”Yes,” she replied eagerly.
”Swear to keep the secret. Indeed, it was through my efforts that your life was saved.”
”I'll preserve silence,” she promised. ”Then, the truth is that you were the dangerous rival of a woman in the affections of a man whom she desired should marry her. The man merely admired her, but loved you.
Having set her mind upon marrying him, she deliberately planned that you, the only obstacle, should be removed. The woman--”
”Whose name is Valerie Dedieu,” interposed Dolly calmly.
”Why, how did you know?” he asked in surprise.
”I know more than you antic.i.p.ate,” replied she meaningly.
”Ah, it was a diabolical plot! The woman--I mean Valerie--planned it with Victor.”
”Victor? Who is Victor?”
”Berard--the man who attempted to take your life. But I was about to tell you how it was that I became complicated in the affair. The truth is, they compelled me. The Frenchwoman holds a certain power over me which causes me to be absolutely ruled by her caprices. In her hands I am helpless, for she can order me to perform any menial service, any crime, being fully aware that I could not--that I dare not--disobey her.”
He spoke with heartfelt bitterness, as if the whole of the transactions were repugnant to him.
”And you--a clergyman!” Dolly incredulously observed.
”Yes. Unfortunately, our evil deeds pursue us. At times, when we least antic.i.p.ate, the closed pages of one's life are reopened and revealed in all their hideousness.”
”Yours is a bitter past, then?” she said in a tone of reproach. ”Ah!
now I understand. You are bound to mademoiselle with the same bond of guilt as Jack Egerton?”
”Who--who told you it was guilt?” he stammered.
”You and Mr. Egerton are bound to Valerie Dedieu by a secret,” she said.
An astounding thought had just crossed her mind. The Christian name Victor occurred frequently in the report in the _Gaulois_, which she had had translated, and which she had since treasured carefully, determined to use it as a final and unimpeachable doc.u.ment to bring Nemesis upon her enemy when occasion offered.
”I understand. Much is now plain to me,” she continued in a firm, harsh voice. ”Yet you have not answered my first question. Mademoiselle's husband left England some months ago, and has not since been heard of.
Tell me, where is he?”
”I'm quite as ignorant of his whereabouts as yourself.”
”Then, I'll put the question in another form. Why has Hugh Trethowen disappeared?”
”I don't know.”
”I'm convinced that you know where he is.”
”I do not. How should I?” he asked impatiently. ”It is futile to prevaricate. If you are one of mademoiselle's myrmidons, as you admit, you surely can form some idea why he has disappeared so mysteriously.