Now, at one fell stroke, his villainy lay exposed.
He regarded Rose for some moments with painful silence.
"I have found you out at last," cried the maiden, her cheeks flaming, a lofty scorn in her great dark eyes.
"Rose, don't misjudge me."
"Misjudge you?"
"Yes; I repeat it, you misjudge me, Rose Alstine."
For some moments she did not speak. Then, of a sudden, she made a movement as if to enter the place where this man's wife sat bowed and weeping.
He put out his hand.
"Do not go in there."
"Stand aside, sir."