George Stratfield walked out of his hotel next morning his mind full of
Mariette Lepage's strange statements. Long and deeply he pondered over
the curious situation, but could discern no solution of the intricate
problem. That there was some deep mystery underlying the actions of
this woman he could not fail to recognise, yet, try how he would, he
nevertheless found himself regarding her with misgiving. Her
coquettishness caused him grave suspicion. Although she had endeavoured
to convince him of her friendliness towards Liane it was apparent from
certain of her remarks that she had some ulterior motive in endeavouring
to obtain from him the exact details of the tragedy. He felt confident
that she was Liane's enemy.
Was it not a cruel vagary of Fate that he should discover this unknown
woman whom his father had designated as his wife, only to find her the
bitterest foe of the woman he loved? This was the woman who, under his
father's eccentric will, was to be offered twenty thousand pounds to
accept him as husband!
He had said nothing of the offer which sooner or later must be formally
made to her, but before they had parted she had given him as her address
the Villa Fortunee, at Monaco. He remembered the strange fact of one of
her letters being found in Nelly Bridson's pocket, but when he mentioned
it she had merely remarked that she had been acquainted with the
unfortunate girl. Nevertheless, he also recollected that the letter had
contained an expression never used in polite society, and that it had
been considered by the police as an altogether extraordinary and rather
incriminating document.
Confused and bewildered, he was walking beneath the awnings on the shops
of the Quai Massena on his way to the Promenade, when suddenly he heard
his name uttered, and on looking up found Liane standing before him
smiling. In her tailor-made gown of pale fawn with a neat toque, she
presented an extremely smart and fresh-looking appearance.
"You were so engrossed, George," she said half-reproachfully, with a
pretty pout, "that you were actually passing me unnoticed. What's the
matter? Something on your mind?"
"Yes," he answered, endeavouring to laugh, so pleased was he that they
had met. "I have something always on my mind--you."
"Then I regret if thoughts of me induce such sadness," she answered, as
turning in the direction she was walking he strolled by her side. The
March sun was so warm that its fiery rays burnt his face.
"Don't speak like that, Liane," he protested. "You surely must know how
heavily those cruel words you spoke at Monte Carlo have fallen upon me.
How can I have happiness when I know that ere long we must part?" They
had crossed the road, and were entering the public garden in order that
passers-by should not overhear their conversation, for in Nice half the
people in the streets speak or understand English.
"Yes," she sighed gloomily. "I know I ought not to have spoken like
that, George. Forgive me, I know that happiness is not for me, yet I am
trying not to wear my heart upon my sleeve."
"But what compels you to marry this man, who was once an adventurer and
swindler, and is still unscrupulous? Surely such a man is no fitting
husband for you?"
Liane glanced at him quickly in surprise. If her lover knew of Zertho's
past he would no doubt have learnt that her father had also earned a
precarious livelihood by his wits.
"Already I have told you that a secret tie binds me irrevocably to him,"
she answered huskily, as slowly, side by side, they strolled beneath the
trees.
"It must be broken, whatever its nature," he said quickly.
"Ah! I only wish it could be," she answered wistfully, again sighing.
"I am compelled to wear a smiling face, but, alas! it only hides a heart
worn out with weariness. I'm the most wretched girl in all the world.
You think me cruel and heartless--you believe I no longer love you as I
did--you must think so. Yet I assure you that day by day I am
remembering with, regret those happy sunny days in Berkshire, those warm
brilliant evenings when, wandering through the quiet leafy lanes, we
made for ourselves a paradise which we foolishly believed would last
always. And yet it is all past--all past, never to return."
He saw that she was affected, and that tears stood in her eyes.
"Life with me has not the charm it used then to possess, dearest," he
said, in a low, intense tone, as together they sat upon one of the
seats. "True, those days at Stratfield were the happiest of all I have
ever known. I remember well how, each time we parted, I counted the
long hours of sunshine until we met again; how, when I was away from
your side, each road, house and tree reminded me of your own dear self;
how in my day-dreams I imagined myself living with you always beside me.
The blow came--my father died. You were my idol. I cared for nothing
else in the world, and before he died I refused to obey his command to
part from you."
"Why," she asked quickly, "did your father object to me?"
"Yes, darling, he did," he answered. This was the first time he had
told her the truth, and it had come out almost involuntarily.
"Then that is why he acted so unjustly towards you?" she observed,
thoughtfully. "You displeased him because you loved me."
He nodded in the affirmative.
"But I do not regret it," he exclaimed hastily. "I do not regret,
because I still love you as fervently as I did on that memorable evening
when my father called me to his bedside and urged me to give up all
thought of you. It is because--because of your decision to marry this
man, Zertho, that I grieve."
"It is not my decision," she protested. "I am forced to act as I am
acting."
"But you shall never marry him!"
"Unfortunately it is beyond your power to assist me, George," she
answered, in a tone of despair. "We love each other, it is true, but we
must end it all. We must not meet again," she added, in a voice broken
by emotion. "I--I cannot bear it. Indeed, I can't."
"Why should you say this?" he asked, reproachfully. "Loving each other
as fondly as we do, we must meet. No power on earth can prevent it."
They looked fondly into each other's eyes. Liane saw in his intense
passion and earnestness, and knew how well he loved her. Plunged in
thought, she traced a semicircle in the dust with the ferrule of her
sunshade.
"No," she said at length, quite calmly. "You must forget, George. I
shall leave here to marry and live away in the old chateau in Luxembourg
as one buried. When I am wedded, my only prayer will be that we may
never again meet."
"Why?" he cried, dismayed.
"Because when I see you I always live the past over again. All those
bright, happy, joyous days come back to me, together with the tragic
circumstances of poor Nelly's death--the dark shadow which fell between
us, the shadow which has lengthened and deepened until it has now formed
a barrier insurmountable."
"What does Nelly's death concern us?" he asked. "It was tragic and
mysterious, certainly; nevertheless, it surely does not prevent our
marriage."
For an instant she glanced sharply at him, then lowering her gaze,
answered drily,--
"Of course not."
"Then why refer to it?"
"Because the mystery has never been solved," she said, in a tone which
surprised him.
"Where the police have failed we can scarcely hope to be successful," he
observed. Yet the harsh, strained voice in which she had spoken puzzled
him. More than once it had occurred to him that Liane had never
satisfactorily explained where she had been on that well-remembered
evening, yet, loving her so well, he had always dismissed any suspicion
as wild and utterly unfounded. Nevertheless, her statements to several
persons regarding her actions on that evening had varied considerably,
and he could not conceal the truth from himself that for a reason
unaccountable she had successfully hidden some matter which might be of
greatest importance.
"Do you think the truth will ever come out?" she inquired, her eyes
still downcast.
"It may," he answered, watching her narrowly. "The unexpected often
happens."
"Of course," she agreed, with a faint smile. "But the police have
obtained no further clue, have they?" she asked in eagerness.
"Not that I'm aware of," he answered briefly, and a silence fell between
them. "Liane," he said at last, turning towards her with a calm,
serious look, "I somehow cannot help doubting that you are acting
altogether straightforward towards me."
"Straightforward?" she echoed, glancing at him with a look half of
suspicion, half of surprise. "I don't understand you."
"I mean that you refuse to tell me the reason you are bound to marry
this man you hate," he blurted forth. "You are concealing the truth."
"Only because I am forced to do so," she answered mechanically. "Ah,
you do not know all, George, or you would not upbraid me," she added
brokenly.
"Why not tell me? Then I might assist you."
"No, alas! you cannot assist me," she answered, in a forlorn, hopeless
voice, with head bent and her gaze fixed blankly upon the ground. "If
you wish to be merciful towards me, leave here. Return to London and
forget everything. While you remain, my terrible secret oppresses me
with greater weight, because I know that I have lost for ever all love
and hope--that the judgment of Heaven has fallen upon me."
"Why, dearest?" he cried. "How is it you speak so strangely?" Then in
an instant remembering her curious words when they had met at Monte
Carlo, he added, "Anyone would believe that you had committed some
fearful crime."
She started, staring at him with lips compressed, but uttering no
response. Her face was that of one upon whose conscience was some
guilty secret.
"Come," he said presently, in a kind, persuasive tone. "Tell me why
poor Nelly's death is a barrier to our happiness."
"No," she answered, "I cannot. Have I not already told you that my
secret is inviolable?"
"You refuse?"
She nodded, her breast heaving and falling.
"Every detail of that terrible affair is still as vivid in my
recollection as if it occurred but yesterday," he said. "Until quite
recently I have always believed that the assassin stole the brooch she
was wearing; but I am now confident that it was stolen between the time
I discovered the body and returned with assistance from the village."
She held her breath, but only for a single instant.
"What causes you to think this?" she inquired. "Because I distinctly
remember that the brooch was still at her throat when I found her lying
in the road. Yet when I returned it was missing. The assassin was not
the thief."
"That has been my theory all along," she said.
He noticed the effect his words produced upon her, and was puzzled.
"You have never explained to me, Liane, the reason you did not keep your
appointment with me on that evening," he said gravely. "If you had been
at the spot we had arranged, Nelly's life would most probably have been
saved."
"I was prevented from meeting you," she answered vaguely, after a
second's hesitation.
"You have already told me that. What prevented you?"
"A curious combination of circumstances."
"What were they?"
"I started out to meet you, but was prevented from so doing."
"By whom?"
"By a friend."
"Or was it an enemy?" he suggested. Her statement did not coincide with
the fact that she had written to him postponing their meeting.
"I do not know," she replied. "When we parted it was long past the hour
we had arranged, so I returned home."
"Nelly must at that moment have been lying dead," he observed. "Have
you any idea what took her to that spot of all others?"
"None whatever," Liane replied. "Except that, unaware of our
appointment, she met someone there."
"You think she met there the person who afterwards shot her?"
"That is my belief."
"Then if you know nothing further regarding the mysterious affair why
should it prevent our marriage?" he asked, regarding her intently.
"It is not only that," she replied quickly, "but there is a further
reason."
"What is it? Surely I may know," he urged. "You will not send me away
in doubt and ignorance, when you know I love you so well."
"I cannot tell you," she answered, panting.
"Then I shall not leave you, and allow you to become this man's wife--
nay, his victim," he exclaimed passionately. "You do not love him,
Liane. You can never love him. Although once a cheat and adventurer he
may now have wealth and position, nevertheless he is no fitting husband
for you, even though he may give you a fine chateau, a town house in
Brussels, and a villa here, on the Riviera. Wealth will never bring you
happiness."
"Why do you not leave me, George?" she cried, with a sudden movement as
if to rise. "Why do you taunt me like this? It is cruel of you."
"I do not taunt you, dearest," he protested in a tone of sympathy. "I
merely point out the bitter truth. You are betrothed to a man who is in
every respect unworthy of you."
"Ah, no!" she exclaimed hysterically. "It is myself who is unworthy.
I--I cannot break the bond between us because--because I fear him."
"If he holds you secretly in his power why not confide in me?" her lover
suggested earnestly. "I may devise some means by which you may escape."
"If I did you would only hate me," she answered, her lips trembling in
blank despair. "No, do not persuade me. There is but one course I can
pursue."
"You intend marrying him?" he observed huskily.
"Unfortunately it is imperative."
"Have you ever reflected how utterly wretched your life must necessarily
be under such circumstances?" he asked, gazing seriously into her eyes.
"Yes," she answered, endeavouring vainly to restrain the sob which
escaped her. "I know full well the life which must now be mine.
Without you I shall not care to live."
"Then why not allow me to assist you?" he urged. "Whatever may be the
nature of your secret, tell me, and let me advise you. Together we will
frustrate Zertho's plans, whatever they may be."
"Any such attempt would only place me in greater peril," she pointed
out.
"But surely you can rely on my secrecy?" he said. "Do I not love you?"
"Yes, but you would hate me if you knew the truth," she whispered
hoarsely. "Therefore I cannot tell you."
"Your secret cannot be of such a nature as to cause that, Liane," he
said quietly.
"It is. Even if I told you everything your help would not avail me.
Indeed, it would only bring to me greater pain and unhappiness," she
answered quickly.
"Our days of bliss have passed and gone, and with them all hope has
vanished. They were full of a perfect, peaceful happiness, because you
loved me with the whole strength of your soul, and I idolised you in
return. Hour by hour the remembrance of those never-to-be-forgotten
hours spent by your side comes back to me. I remember how quiet and
peaceful the English village seemed after the noise, rattle and
incessant chatter of a gay Continental town, how from the first moment
we met, I, already world-weary, commenced a new life. But it is all
past--all gone, and I have now only before me a world of bitterness and
despair." And she turned her pale face from his to hide the tears which
welled in her eyes.
"You say you were world-weary," he observed in a low tone. "I do not
wonder at it now that I know of your past."
"My past!" she gasped quickly. "What do you know of my past?"
"I know that your father was a gambler," he answered. "Ah! what a life
of worry and privation yours must have been, dearest. Yet you told me
nothing of it!"
She looked at him, but her gaze wavered beneath his.
"I told you nothing because I feared that you would not choose the
daughter of an adventurer for a wife," she faltered.
"It would have made no difference," he assured her. "I loved you."
"Yes," she sighed; "but there is a natural prejudice against women who
have lived in the undesirable set that I have."
"Quite so," he admitted. "Nevertheless, knowing how pure and noble you
are, dearest, this fact does not trouble me in the least. I am still
ready, nay, anxious, to make you my wife."
She shook her head gravely. Her hand holding her sunshade trembled as
she retraced the semicircle in the dust.
"No," she exclaimed at last. "If you would be generous, George, leave
me and return to London. In future I must bear my burden myself;
therefore, it is best that I should begin now. To remain here is
useless, for each time I see you only increases my sadness; each time we
meet brings back to me all the memories I am striving so hard to
forget."
"But I cannot leave you, Liane," he declared decisively. "You shall not
throw yourself helplessly into the hands of this unscrupulous man
without my making some effort to save you."
"It is beyond your power--entirely beyond your power," she cried,
dejectedly. "I would rather kill myself than marry him; yet I am
compelled to obey his will, for if I took my life in order to escape,
others must bear the penalty which I feared to face. No, if you love me
you will depart, and leave me to bear my sorrow alone."
"I refuse to obey you," he answered, firmly. "Already you know that
because I loved you so well I have borne without regret my father's
action in leaving me almost penniless. Since that day I have worked and
striven with you always as my pole-star because you had promised to be
mine. Your photograph looked down at me always from the mantelshelf of
my dull, smoke-begrimed room. It smiled when I smiled, and was
melancholy when I was sad. And the roses and violets you have sent from
here made my room look so gay, and their perfume was so fresh that they
seemed to breathe the same sweet odour that your chiffons always exhale.
Your letters were a little cold, it is true; but I attributed that to
the fact that in Nice the distractions are so many that correspondence
is always sadly neglected. Picture to yourself what a blow it was to me
when, on the terrace at Monte Carlo, you told me that you had another
lover, and that you intended to marry him. I felt--"
"Ah!" she cried, putting up her little hand to arrest the flow of his
words, "I know, I know. But I cannot help it. I love you still--I
shall love you always. But our marriage is not to be."
He paused in deep reflection. There was one matter upon which he had
never spoken to her, and he was wondering whether he should mention it,
or let it remain a secret within him. In a few moments, however, he
decided.
"I have already told you the cause which led my father to treat me so
unjustly, Liane," he said, looking at her seriously, "but there is one
other fact of which I have never spoken. My father left me a
considerable sum of money on condition that I married a woman whom I had
never seen."
"A woman you had never seen!" she exclaimed, at first surprised, then
laughing at the absurdity of such an idea.
"Yes. It was his revenge. I would not promise to renounce all thought
of you, therefore, in addition to leaving me practically a pauper, he
made a tantalising provision that if I chose to marry this mysterious
woman, of whom none of my family knew anything, I was to receive a
certain sum. This woman must, according to the will, be offered a large
sum as bribe to accept me as husband, therefore ever since my father's
death his solicitors have been endeavouring to discover her."
"How extraordinary!" she said, deeply interested in his statement. "Has
the woman been found?"
"Yes. I discovered her yesterday," he replied. "You discovered her!
Then she is here, in Nice?"
"Yes, strangely enough, she is here."
"What's her name?"
"Mariette Lepage."
Instantly her face went pale as death.
"Mariette Lepage!" she gasped hoarsely.
"Yes. The woman whose strange letter was found upon Nelly after her
death," he answered. "What my father could have known of her I am
utterly at a loss to imagine."
"And she is actually here, in Nice," she whispered in a strange,
terrified voice, for in an instant there had arisen before her vision
the dark angry eyes of the woman in mask and domino who had pelted her
so unmercifully on that Sunday afternoon during Carnival.
"Yes, she is here," he said, glancing at her sharply. "She was
evidently well acquainted with poor Nelly. What do you know of her?"
"I--I know nothing," she answered in an intense, anxious tone, as one
consumed by some terrible dread. "Mariette Lepage is not my friend."
And she sat panting, her chin sunk upon her breast as if she had been
dealt a blow.