Col. Anglesea was going on with his statement:
“I was bound to England by business, which was at the same time a most sacred duty. It is needless to go into the description of that business and duty. It has nothing to do with this case further than it held me fast from coming to this country in search of my wife; from whom I had never heard directly since our violent parting in the church. Nor did I hear any news of her until last March, when a rumor reached me that she was on the eve of marriage with a cousin of hers, a Mr. Leonidas Force, a midshipman in the United States Navy. I took measures to find out the truth about this report, and having satisfied myself of it, I set sail for New York, where I arrived only three days since. I took the first train to Washington, and reached the city yesterday morning. I inquired the address of Mr. Abel Force and went directly to his house. I was refused admittance. I asked to see my wife, but was refused the privilege.”
“Oh, Lord! how that man can lie! I mean, how he can falsify the sacred truth!” panted Wynnette.
“Stick to the first form, my dear! The terse Saxon is the strongest,” muttered Roland.
Col. Anglesea continued:
“Knowing the desperate character of the man I had to deal with——”
“Oh! just hear him talking about our gentle, lovely papa!” whispered Elva.
“Never mind! I’m putting it all down! He’s only piling up ‘wrath against a day of wrath.’ Spinning out rope enough to hang himself. I’ll give it to him! He’ll catch it!” panted Wynnette.
“Knowing, I say, the character of the man I had to deal with,” concluded Anglesea; “knowing from bitter experience that not even the holy ground of the house of God was sacred from his murderous violence——”
“Rosemary Hedge! make Roland Bayard kick that man out of the courthouse and horsewhip him in the public streets!” fiercely whispered Wynnette.