Mrs. Lorraine looked half surprised, half alarmed.
‘What is it, dear boy?’
‘Did Belassis ever mention a former marriage to your sister, or to anyone?’
‘A former marriage? Oh dear no! He was not married, and never could have been. He was only about three-and-twenty when he came here, and he lived here seven years before he married. Oh no, he could not have been married before that—it is quite impossible. What makes you ask such a very odd question?’
‘Because he was married before—he made a low sort of marriage, with a pretty lady’s-maid, only a few months before he appeared at Ladywell.’
And forthwith Tor launched into the history of his visit to Whitbury, and the discovery which had been forced upon him there.
Aunt Olive listened aghast, especially when it dawned upon her that her brother-in-law was a much greater rascal than even she had ever before believed, and that he had shamefully deceived her sister. Only too well did she now perceive the cause of his uneasiness before the wedding; and her dismay at the possibility, to which they could not blind themselves, fairly took her breath away.
‘I trust all may be well on that score,’ said Tor, knowing well what was in her mind. ‘For the girl did die, poor thing, somewhere about 1850, and we shall try to ascertain the exact date if it is possible. I do not in the least believe that this disgraceful episode need ever be made public; but I think it will give me the whip-hand of Belassis if ever he is troublesome. The secret is known only to me and to Miss Marjory Descartes. I think we are both to be trusted. I shall do nothing which might bring down sorrow and disgrace upon the innocent. If he lets my affairs alone, I will let his.’
Tor was not long in finding that he had got the whip-hand of Belassis pretty considerably. He was riding over the farm the following day, when the uncle joined him, mounted on an old screw, which was too broken-down in spirit to frighten the most timid horseman.
‘Ah, Phil, my boy!’ he cried with great heartiness. ‘Just the fellow I wanted to see. Ride on with me a little away from these clodhoppers—so, not too fast. I just wanted a word or so with you.’