“You do not understand,” George interposed again, “that what Professor Keredec risked for his ‘poor boy,’ in returning to France, was a trial on the charge of bigamy!”
The professor recoiled from the definite brutality. “My dear sir! It is not possible that such a thing can happen.”
“I conceive it very likely to happen,” said George, “unless you get him out of the country before the lady now installed here as his wife discovers the truth.”
“But she must not!” Keredec lifted both hands toward Ward appealingly; they trembled, and his voice betrayed profound agitation. “She cannot! She has never suspected such a thing; there is nothing that could MAKE her suspect it!”
“One particular thing would be my telling her,” said Ward quietly.
“Never!” cried the professor, stepping back from him. “You could not do that!”
“I not only could, but I will, unless you get him out of the country—and quickly!”
“George!” I exclaimed, coming forward between them. “This won’t do at all. You can’t—”
“That’s enough,” he said, waving me back, and I saw that his hand was shaking, too, like Keredec’s. His face had grown very white; but he controlled himself to speak with a coolness that made what he said painfully convincing. “I know what you think,” he went on, addressing me, “but you’re wrong. It isn’t for myself. When I sailed for New York in the spring I thought there was a chance that she would carry out the action she begun four years ago and go through the form of ridding herself of him definitely; that is, I thought there was some hope for me; I believed there was until this morning. But I know better now. If she’s seen him again, and he’s been anything except literally unbearable, it’s all over with ME. From the first, I never had a chance against him; he was a hard rival, even when he’d become only a cruel memory.” His voice rose. “I’ve lived a sober, decent life, and I’ve treated HER with gentleness and reverence since she was born, and HE’S done nothing but make a stew-pan of his life and neglect and betray her when he had her. Heaven knows why it is; it isn’t because of anything he’s done or has, it’s just because it’s HIM, I suppose, but I know my chance is gone for good! THAT leaves me free to act for her; no one can accuse me of doing it for myself. And I swear she sha’n’t go through that slough of despond again while I have breath in my body!”
“Steady, George!” I said.