Part 54 (2/2)
”I have come here, madame,” continued Gabrielle, ”to bring your lost husband before you, so that he may hear the true story of your perfidy; I have--”
”By Heaven! I'll strangle you!” Valerie hissed, stepping forward threateningly, with clenched hands and flas.h.i.+ng eyes.
The two women were, however, separated by the writing-table.
”First, listen to what I have to say,” the other replied coolly. ”I alone know the truth, and it is useless to protest your innocence or deny your guilt--”
”The truth of what?”
”Victor has confessed,” said Gabrielle, without answering the question.
”Confessed!” she repeated, betraying increased alarm.
”By your treachery he was sent to penal servitude, but your plan proved rather too ingenious, for, strangely enough, he denounced you to a fellow-convict, who chanced to be your husband!”
Valerie glanced sharply at Hugh, with unwavering gaze.
”Yes,” he said, in a tone of disgust, speaking for the first time.
”Your lover told me the horrible story, how--like myself--he had been tricked and wronged by you. I can scarcely believe that I ever loved a woman so vile and despicable, so depraved by sin as yourself.”
”Vile and despicable!” she echoed, in anger. ”What have I done that you, too, should turn against me?”
”If you forget,” interposed Gabrielle, ”I'll refresh your memory.”
”I desire to hear none of the vilifying denunciations. Let me get back to my guests.”
”No,” said Egerton, turning the key in the door, and placing it in his pocket. ”You don't leave here yet. We have not finished.”
She turned upon him like an infuriated animal brought to bay.
”You,” she cried, scanning him from head to toe in exasperation. ”Do you consider it wise for you--of all men--to interfere with my liberty?
Remember the affair of the Boulevard Haussmann!”
The speech had its desired effect. The artist shrank from her.
”At the same time,” exclaimed Gabrielle, addressing her, ”remember there are other sentences in the Penal Code besides imprisonment.”
”I don't understand you,” answered Valerie, giving her shoulders a shrug indicative of unconcern.
”There is death for those who take the lives of their fellow-creatures.”
The adventuress shuddered. Then resuming her air of indifference, said--
”You are talking enigmas.”
”You wish me to speak more plainly. Very well. Perhaps you have forgotten that night we met at my rooms in the Boulevard St. Michel, when, after your taunts and threats, I prophesied that a day would come when I would hold your life in my hands, and compel you to beg for mercy. That day has dawned.”
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