Consumed by hatred, and longing to go forward and unmask him as the
ingenious swindler who stole Blenkap's money, I stood at the gate, eager
to obtain another glimpse of the woman who he intended should be his
victim.
What was the nature of his all-powerful influence over her, I wondered?
She loved me still. Had she not admitted that? And yet she dare not
break from this man whose life was one long living lie!
"Fortunately I've discovered you," I said, between my teeth, speaking to
myself. "You shall never wreck her happiness, that I'm determined! A
word from me to Scotland Yard, and you will be arrested, my fine
gentleman." And I laughed, recollecting how entirely his future was in
my hands.
He had already dressed for dinner before the arrival of the party, and I
overheard him shouting to Murray not to trouble to change, it being so
late. Then he came along the hall, and stood at the door, gazing
straight in my direction, his hands in the pockets of his dinner-jacket,
awaiting his guests.
He could not see me, I knew, for the roadway was rendered very dark at
that point by the trees that almost met overhead. Therefore I watched
his thin clean-shaven face, and saw upon its evil features an expression
of intense anxiety which was certainly not there when we had met earlier
that day in Dorsetshire.
Ella was the first to descend. She had exchanged her dark dress for a
gown of pale blue Liberty silk, high at the throat, and, though simply
made, it suited her admirably. The fellow turned at the sound of her
footstep, and hurrying towards her, took her hand, and led her outside
upon the gravelled drive.
"The others, of course, have no idea that I've been to Studland!" I
heard him whisper to her anxiously as they stood there together in the
shadow, away from the stream of light that shone from the open door.
"I told them nothing," was her calm answer, in a voice that seemed inert
and mechanical.
"I only arrived here an hour ago. I feared that you might be here
before me. You, of course, delayed them by excuses, as I suggested."
"Yes. We had tea on the way, and we came the longer way round, by
Plymouth, as you told me."
"It was lucky for you that you left the Millers as early as you did," he
said.
"Why?"
"Because they had a visitor. He came an hour or so after you'd gone. I
found him talking to Lucie, and she introduced me. His name was Leaf."
I saw that she started at mention of my name. But with admirable
self-control she asked:--
"Well, and what did he want?"
"Wanted to see you. And what's more, Lucie told me after he'd gone that
he had once been engaged to you. Is that true?"
"I've known him a good many years," was my loved one's evasive answer,
as though she feared to arouse his anger or jealousy by an
acknowledgment of the truth.
"I ask you, Ella, a simple question--is what Lucie Miller has said true?
Were you ever engaged to that man?" he asked very seriously.
"There was not an actual engagement," was her answer, and I saw that she
feared to tell him the truth.
What right had the fellow to question her? I had difficulty in
restraining myself from rushing forward and boldly exposing him as the
thief and adventurer he was.
"Lucie, in answer to my question, told me that you had lost sight of
each other for several years, and that you believed him dead."
"That is so."
"And that he has been travelling on the Continent the whole time?"
"I believe he has," was her reply, whereupon he remained in silence for
some moments, as though reflecting deeply. Was it possible that, after
all, he had recognised me as the man who he had intended should be his
cat's-paw in the Blenkap affair?