He was not, however, aware that his own illicit intercourse with Laura Stanbridge had become known to her very shortly after his intimacy with that heartless, designing, and worthless woman, who lured but to betray.
It is just possible that he might have been prevailed upon to suffer her to accompany him to Australia or America, but a circumstance occurred which put that altogether out of the question.
This it will be our purpose to describe.
Gatliffe and Miss Stanbridge were walking close to the edge of the cliffs, as the moonlight cast its beams on that part of the rocky eminence running from where the Infirmary stands to a place known at this time as Marsh Bay.
It will be perhaps needless to say that his female companion demonstrated the strongest affection for him, and made use of all her blandishments to draw him towards her.
A spectator at a casual glance would have conjectured that they were lovers—albeit they were neither of them particularly young at this time.
They had not gone very far when the figure of a man was observed making towards them. He was coming in the opposite direction to the one they were taking.
Laura Stanbridge was at no loss to understand who the stranger was, and perhaps, of all men in the world, he was the very last she had any desire to see.
As he approached he indulged in a low satirical mocking laugh, which jarred upon the ears of Gatliffe’s companion.
“Ah, oh!” he ejaculated. “It is you, eh? and with your fancy man, too! I am most charmed at this unexpected meeting, because it gives me assurance that you are alive and well, which is vastly consolatory. Taking a moonlight stroll, my charmer—eh?”