"I'm well aware that we are alone, and I'm completely in your power. If
you are so anxious to murder me, you'd better set about it at once."
"Bah!" he exclaimed, turning from her with chagrin. "Why do you taunt
me like this? Why did you come here and incite me to lay murderous
hands upon you?"
"Merely because I desire some information--nothing more."
"Why do you seek it of me?"
"Because I know that with your assistance I can discover Hugh Trethowen.
But we have parleyed long enough. I ask you now, for the last time,
whether you wish me to show you mercy--whether you will answer my
questions in confidence?"
He drew a deep breath, and stood motionless, perplexed and hesitating.
They had emerged from the vestry, and were standing close to the altar.
About her fair face shone a stream of richest life. This came from the
painted window above--three bars of coloured sunlight, that bathed the
hair in fire and left the dark body in deepest shadow.
"By betraying the secret I should run a great risk--how great you have
little idea."
"Will not the risk be greater if you refuse to answer me?" she asked,
looking at him steadily.
Her argument was conclusive. A few minutes, and he had apparently
decided.
"Well, if you compel me, I suppose I must tell you," said he, dropping
into a hoarse whisper. "If I do, you'll promise never to repeat it?"
"Yes," she replied eagerly.
"Swear to keep the secret. Indeed, it was through my efforts that your
life was saved."
"I'll preserve silence," she promised. "Then, the truth is that you
were the dangerous rival of a woman in the affections of a man whom she
desired should marry her. The man merely admired her, but loved you.
Having set her mind upon marrying him, she deliberately planned that
you, the only obstacle, should be removed. The woman--"
"Whose name is Valerie Dedieu," interposed Dolly calmly.
"Why, how did you know?" he asked in surprise.
"I know more than you anticipate," replied she meaningly.
"Ah, it was a diabolical plot! The woman--I mean Valerie--planned it
with Victor."
"Victor? Who is Victor?"
"Berard--the man who attempted to take your life. But I was about to
tell you how it was that I became complicated in the affair. The truth
is, they compelled me. The Frenchwoman holds a certain power over me
which causes me to be absolutely ruled by her caprices. In her hands I
am helpless, for she can order me to perform any menial service, any
crime, being fully aware that I could not--that I dare not--disobey
her."
He spoke with heartfelt bitterness, as if the whole of the transactions
were repugnant to him.
"And you--a clergyman!" Dolly incredulously observed.
"Yes. Unfortunately, our evil deeds pursue us. At times, when we least
anticipate, the closed pages of one's life are reopened and revealed in
all their hideousness."
"Yours is a bitter past, then?" she said in a tone of reproach. "Ah!
now I understand. You are bound to mademoiselle with the same bond of
guilt as Jack Egerton?"
"Who--who told you it was guilt?" he stammered.
"You and Mr. Egerton are bound to Valerie Dedieu by a secret," she said.
An astounding thought had just crossed her mind. The Christian name
Victor occurred frequently in the report in the _Gaulois_, which she had
had translated, and which she had since treasured carefully, determined
to use it as a final and unimpeachable document to bring Nemesis upon
her enemy when occasion offered.
"I understand. Much is now plain to me," she continued in a firm, harsh
voice. "Yet you have not answered my first question. Mademoiselle's
husband left England some months ago, and has not since been heard of.
Tell me, where is he?"
"I'm quite as ignorant of his whereabouts as yourself."
"Then, I'll put the question in another form. Why has Hugh Trethowen
disappeared?"
"I don't know."
"I'm convinced that you know where he is."
"I do not. How should I?" he asked impatiently. "It is futile to
prevaricate. If you are one of mademoiselle's myrmidons, as you admit,
you surely can form some idea why he has disappeared so mysteriously.
Are you not aware that he is no longer living with her, and that all
efforts to discover him have been in vain?"
"I--I really know nothing, and care less, about your lover," he answered
disdainfully. "Besides, why should you renew your friendship with him
now he is married?"
His words maddened her. She had attacked her adversary with
circumspection, but in her sudden ebullition of passionate indignation
she gave vent to a flood of words, which, as soon as they were uttered,
she regretted.
"I did not ask you to assist Hugh," she cried. "I know he--like
myself--has fallen a victim to the machinations of your hired assassins.
But you refuse to tell me where I can find him, and speak of him as my
lover. Even if we do love one another, what does it concern you? Would
you preach to me of morals?" This last remark caused him to start, and
he scowled at her ominously. "I warn you," she said. "The day is not
far distant when the whole mystery will be cleared up, and your villainy
exposed."
"Perhaps so," he replied, with a forced laugh. "I'm sure I don't care."
"But you will, I fancy. You'll be glad enough, when the time arrives,
to fall upon your knees, as you did just now, and beg for mercy."
"You're mad," he said in a tone of disgust.