“What’s that to me?” she retorted. “Do you think I’m going to pay his debts? I didn’t contract them; I wasn’t with him; he left me years ago! Let her look out for the debts! Give me the policy or I’ll have you arrested!”
The woman was wildly and covetously excited: she would not rest easy until the actual possession of the money assured her that there was no possibility of a slip. The money-lender, too, was anxious. Murray alone seemed to be taking the matter quietly, for these two were now playing the game for him, although the details required his close attention. A very slight miscalculation might carry it beyond his control.
“It’s assigned to me,” said the money-lender with a pretense of confidence. “I have your signature.”
“It’s a lie!” she cried.
“Oh, no,” interrupted Murray quietly; “it’s a forgery.”
“That woman!” exclaimed Mrs. Vincent. “She stole my name as well as my husband!”
“That man,” corrected Murray. “He did it for the woman who did so much for him. He would have given her all, if he could.”
Murray had reason to know that it was the nurse, but he lied cheerfully in what he considered a good cause. They were getting to the critical and dangerous point in the game he was playing: the widow would be merciless to the nurse.
“It’s a forgery, anyway!” declared Mrs. Vincent. “I won’t pay a cent!”
“I’ll sue,” said the money-lender threateningly.