Part 46 (2/2)
”Good-morning, Jack!” exclaimed Dolly Vivian brightly, tripping into the room.
”Good-morning,” he a.s.sented sullenly, without looking up at her.
”How disagreeable you are to-day,” she observed, as she commenced unb.u.t.toning her glove. ”Anything wrong?”
”Yes, a good deal. I shan't want you; I can't work to-day,” he replied sadly.
”What's the matter?” she asked in alarm, advancing towards him and placing her hand upon his arm.
Turning with a sigh, he looked into her face and said, in a low, earnest tone--
”Dolly, I've received bad news.”
”What is it--tell me? Don't keep me in suspense.”
”It is about some one you know.”
”News of Hugh?” she cried, her thoughts at once reverting to the man she loved.
He nodded, but did not reply.
”What of him? Where is he?”
”Dolly,” he said hesitatingly,--”he is dead.”
”Dead!” she gasped, clutching at a chair for support.
She would have fallen had he not rushed to her and placed his arm around her waist. In a few moments, however, she recovered herself.
”You--you tell me he is dead. How do you know?”
”By the newspaper.”
”Dead! Hugh dead! I can't--no, I won't believe it,” she cried wildly.
”There must be some mistake.”
”He died suddenly at Antwerp,” Jack said mechanically.
”You mean he has been killed--that his wife is a murderess.”
”Hush, Dolly,” he exclaimed quickly; ”you cannot prove that, remember.”
”Oh, can't I? If he has been murdered, I will discover the truth. Her past is better known to me than she imagines. I'll denounce Valerie Duvauchel as the woman who--”
”Why, how did you know that was her name?” he asked in amazement and undisguised alarm.
”What was I saying? Forgive me if I made any unjust remark, but I could not help it,” she urged. ”It is all so sudden--and--and he is dead.”
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