I have beenguilty of that crime so terrible to the eyes of the hypocriticalEnglish--unconventionality. Don't you think I could easily disproveyour statements, especially to a man who loves me?"
"Loves you!" repeated the artist, with a harsh, derisive laugh. "Hewouldn't be guilty of such romantic folly."
"You are mistaken."
"Then I can quickly put an end to his fool's paradise."
"How?" she asked breathlessly.
"I will find the means. If nothing else avails, he shall be madeacquainted with the history of La--"
"Hear me!" she interrupted fiercely. "We are both past masters in theart of lying, John Egerton; we have both led double lives, and graduatedas deceivers. Breathe one word to him, and I swear that at any cost theworld shall know your secret. You should know by this time how futileit is to trifle with me, especially when I hold the trump card. Hughhas been your friend, but now he is my lover; and, furthermore, I meanthat he shall marry me."
The man was silent.
He admitted to himself that her bold, passionate words were true. Hewas powerless to give his friend an insight into her true character,fearing the consequences, and knowing too well how relentless she was,and that she would not spare him.
"If I carry out my intentions and tell him everything--"
"Then you will suffer, and in his eyes I shall remain immaculate," sheexclaimed quickly, watching his face intently.
Calm indifference had been succeeded by a wearied, anxious expression,and in his eyes there was a look of unutterable hatred. She waited forhim to answer, but he continued smoking thoughtfully.
"_Ne m'echauffez pas les oreilles_," she urged in a less irritated tone."You must admit, Jack, there are certain bonds between us that for ourown sakes must not be broken. The folly of disclosing my past to Hughis palpable, for it would mean speedy ruin to yourself, and be of nopossible benefit. Therefore but one solution of the difficultyremains."
"What is it?"
"Well, I have already told you what form my revenge would take were youto expose me, and I think you acknowledge that to tell all I know wouldbe most undesirable from your point of view."
He bowed in assent.
"I'm glad you admit the inefficacy of your attempt to bounce me," shecontinued. "I can suggest but one thing, namely, that we resolve topreserve our compact of secrecy."
"At the cost of my friend's happiness?"
"At any risk. But let me first assure you that Hugh's happiness willnot be jeopardised by the adoption of this course."
"There will be no--er--danger, I suppose?"
"What do you mean?"
"Men die sometimes."
"I don't understand your insinuation. I confess I love him, so it isscarcely probable that any harm will befall him if it is in my power toprevent it."
He thrust his hands deep into his pockets and frowned. Then heexclaimed decisively:
"Your words have no effect upon me. I am determined he shall judge youin your true light."
She glanced at him in anxious surprise, for, truth to tell, she wasunprepared for this bold reply. She hesitated whether she should changeher tactics, as she was well acquainted with his obdurate nature, and inher heart feared to lose the man whose tender passion she halfreciprocated. But her quick, impetuous character quickly asserteditself, and attained the mastery.
"You--you blighted my life!" she cried in a towering rage, her faceblanched with passion. "And even now, when I have an opportunity, youdebar me from atoning for the past, and becoming an honest woman! I amnot such a blind fool, however, as to bow calmly to your tyranny. Ihave already sacrificed too much, so I give you but one chance to saveyourself."
"To save myself. Bah! you are talking nonsense."
"No, believe me, I'm not," she declared, her dark eyes flashing withanger. "Either you give your promise of secrecy now, at once, or beforethe day is out I will give you up to the police."
Jack Egerton drew a long breath, and his countenance grew visibly paler.He was cornered, and saw no possible means of evading the direalternative. If he divulged the secret, it would mean disgrace, ruin,even worse.
She smiled triumphantly at his bewilderment. It was true, as sheassured him, she held the trump card, and was playing the dangerous gamedexterously, as only a clever, scheming woman could.
"Which do you choose?" she asked in a cool, indifferent tone, as ifputting forward some very commonplace plan.
"You're an idiot," he exclaimed in vehement disgust.
"I'm well aware of that fact, _mon ami_," replied she, with asupercilious curl of the lip. "Such a compliment is particularlyappropriate. I was an idiot to allow you to have the freedom you nowenjoy. Remember, however, I have yet a talisman that will sooner orlater cause you to cringe at my feet."
"Never."
"Then you must put up with the consequences," she answered calmly,nervously twisting the ribbons of her sunshade. "But I warn you, thatif we are to be enemies you will find me even more merciless thanyourself. Your own folly alone will bring upon you the retribution youso richly deserve."
"Bah! what's the use of being dramatic? If it's a fight between us,your record is quite as black as mine."
"Ah! you would have to prove that; but in the meantime I should have thesatisfaction of seeing you sent to penal servitude. You have beenacquainted with me long enough to know that I do nothing by halves. Iam determined that now, before we part, you shall swear to keep mysecret, or I will put you in a convict's cell."
"But think of the injury you would--"
"Enough! Words are useless. You must choose now."
Her handsome face was perfectly impassive; a cruel, sarcastic smileplayed about her lips.
She had been watching his features narrowly, for the pallor and thenervous twitchings clearly showed the agitation her decisive alternativehad produced. Passionate love for Hugh Trethowen had alone promptedher, for she saw that if this man gave him an insight into her past hewould turn his back upon her in ineffable disgust. Hers was a Bohemiannature, and she had led a strangely adventurous life, though few wereaware of it. Her early education in the Montmartre quarter of Paris hadeffectually eradicated any principles she might have originallypossessed, and up to this time she had enjoyed the freedom of beingabsolute mistress of her actions. Yet, strangely enough, now she hadmet Hugh, her admiration of his character had quickly developed intothat intense affection which is frequently characteristic of women ofher temperament, and she discovered that his love was indispensable toher existence. There was but one barrier to her happiness. Egertonknew more of the unpleasant incidents of her life than was desirable,and for the protection of her own interests she was compelled to silencehim.
From the expression on his face she felt she had gained her point, androse with a feeling of absolute triumph.
"Now," she demanded impatiently, "what is your decision?"
"Your secret shall be kept on one condition only," he said, risingslowly, and standing beside her.
"What is that, pray?"
"That no harm shall befall Hugh," he replied earnestly. "You understandmy meaning, Valerie?"
"It isn't very likely that I should allow anything of that sort tooccur. You seem to forget I love him."
The artist was convinced that her affection for his friend wasunfeigned. She was but a woman after all, he argued, and probably herlife had changed since they last met. Her answer decided him.
"Well, which will you do?" she again asked, with an anxious look.
"I will tell Hugh nothing of the past," he said briefly.
"Ah! I thought you would come to your senses at last," she exclaimed,with a short, hysterical laugh. "Then it is a compact between us. Youtake an oath of silence."
"I swear I will divulge nothing," he stammered.
Then Valerie breathed again, and it was impossible for her to hide thesatisfaction with which she regarded his words.
"Divulge nothing," she repeated, quite cheerfully. "Und
oubtedly it willbe the best course, especially as we both have hideous secrets which, ifexposed, would bring inevitable ruin upon us both. Was it not Marmontelwho said `La fortune, soit bonne ou mauvaise, soit passagere ouconstante, ne peut rien sur l'ame du sage?'"
They chatted for a few moments, then moved away together in thedirection of the Floral Hall--not, however, before she exclaimed--
"If you break your oath you will bitterly repent."
CHAPTER EIGHT.
UNDER SEAL.
Surrounded by a thickly-wooded park, where the deer abound in fernycoombes and hollows, stood the home of the Trethowens.
The house, to
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