A swiftly augmented concern gathered on Stephen Jannan's countenance.
"You were walking with Susan," he repeated increduously. "Yes," Jasper
asserted, with a sharp inner dread. "You don't know, but I want to marry
her." Stephen Jannan faced him with an exclamation of anger. "You want
to marry her, and, in consequence, drag her, Susan, into the dirtiest
affair the city is like to know for years. Susan Brundon, with her
Academy; all she has, all her labour, destroyed, ruined, pulled to
pieces by slanderous tongues! By God, Jasper, what a beast you look! The
most delicate woman, alive, the one farthest from just this sort of
muck, being sworn in the Mayor's office, testifying in an obscene murder
case, before the Sheriff and Constable, and heaven knows what police and
vilely curious!"
A sickening feeling of utter destruction seized on Jasper Penny, a
dropping of his entire being from the heights of yesterday to the last
degradation. He felt the blood leave his heart and pound dizzily in his
brain, and then recede, followed by an icy coldness, a wavering of the
commonplace objects of the room. He raised his fingers to his collar,
stared with burning eyes at Stephen Jannan. "Everything spoiled," the
latter said again; "her pupils will positively be taken from her at once
by all the nice females. Her name will be pronounced, smiled over, in
every despicable quarter of the city, printed in the daily sheets. I--I
can't forgive you for this. Susan, our especial joy!"
Jasper Penny saw in a flash, as vivid and remorseless as a stab of
lightning, that this was all true. The fatality of the past, sweeping
forward in a black, strangling tide, had overtaken not only himself but
Susan, too; Susan, in soft merino, in an azure velvet cloak; her face
against his. "I shall go away at once," he said hoarsely. "I'll never
appear, and they can think what they will. Then there will be no
necessity for her to come forward. She shall be spared that, no matter
what it costs."
"Romantic and youthful folly," Jannan declared; "loud-sounding and
useless. How little you understand Susan--immediately it is known Culser
was killed between seven and nine, whether you stay or go, she will come
forward with the truth, free you from any suspicion. I tell you every
detail will be canvassed, familiar to the boys on the street. A man
important as yourself, with all your industries and money, and such
salacity, together with Susan Brundon, will make a pretty story. If I
had a chance, Jasper, I'm almost certain I'd sacrifice you without a
quiver. How could you? Susan Brundon! Never telling her--"
"On the contrary, she knew everything. I am not so low as you seem to
think."
"That has no importance now!" Stephen Jannan exclaimed impatiently. "All
that matters is to make it as easy as possible for her, I have, I think,
enough position, influence, to keep the dregs out. But there will be
enough present, even then. Damnable insinuations, winks,
cross-questioning."
His excitement faded before the exigencies of the unavoidable situation;
he became cold, logical, legal. Jasper Penny listened, standing, to his
instructions, the exact forecasting of every move probable at the
hearing in the Mayor's chamber. "After that," Stephen added, "we can
face the problem of Susan's future. She thinks tremendously of her
school. It will fall to pieces in her hands. There can be no question of
material assistance; refused her own brother.
"Now, understand--stay in these rooms until I send for you. See no one.
I'll get on, go to Susan. The thing itself should be short; her
character will assist you there. What a mess you have made of living,
Jasper."