Part 60 (2/2)
”Oh, Lordy!” said Myra Nell. ”I--can't marry you, dear.”
”What?” Blake knew that his expression was changing, and tried to stifle his relief.
As for Bernie, he flushed angrily, and his voice rang with his newly born determination.
”Don't be silly. Didn't he just say he loved you? And, for heaven's sake, don't look so scared. We won't devour you.”
”I can't marry him,” declared the girl, once more.
”Why?”
”Be-because I'm already married! There! Jimmy! I've been trying to get that out for a month.”
Dreux gasped. ”Myra Nell! You're crazy!”
She nodded, then turned to Blake with a look of entreaty, ”P-please don't kill yourself, dear? I couldn't help it.”
”Why, you poor frightened little thing! I'm delighted! I am indeed, ”he told her, rea.s.suringly.
”Don't you care? Aren't you going to storm and--and raise the d.i.c.kens?” she queried. ”Maybe this is your way of hiding your despair?”
”Not at all. I'm glad--so long as you're happy.”
”And you're not mad with anguish nor crushed with--Why, the idea! I'm perfectly _furious!_ I ran away because I was afraid of you, and I haven't seen my husband once, not once, do you understand, since we were married. Oh, you--_brute!_”
By this time Dreux had recovered his power of speech, and yelled in furious voice:
”Who is the reptile?”
There came a timid rap, the office door opened, and Lecompte Rilleau inserted his head, saying gently:
”Me! I! I'm it!”
Blake rose so suddenly that his chair upset, whereupon Rilleau, who saw in this abrupt movement a threat, propelled himself fully into view, crying with determination:
”Here! Don't you touch her! She's mine! You take it out of me!”
Blake's answering laugh seemed so out of character that the bridegroom took it as merely a new phase of insanity, and edged in front of his wife protectingly.
”I wanted to come in at first and break the news, but she wouldn't let me,” he explained.
”You have a weak heart. You--you mustn't fight!” implored Myra Nell; but Lecompte only shrugged.
[Ill.u.s.tration: ”P-PLEASE DON'T KILL YOURSELF, DEAR? I COULDN'T HELP IT”]
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