"Confound it, Mrs. Verschoyle, leave the man alone," said Ronald, rather annoyed at the way she was behaving.
Vassalla walked to the door with the detective beside him, and faced round as he was going out.
"As sure as there's a God in heaven," he said, proudly, "I am innocent, and that woman only brings this accusation against me to satisfy her absurd jealousy. I can prove my innocence, and she"--pointing to Mrs. Verschoyle--"holds the proof."
When the door closed, Foster turned to Mrs. Verschoyle.
"What does he mean?" asked the lawyer.
"I don't know," she said. "I possess no proof of his innocence, and I'm ready to go into the witness box, and swear he killed my husband."
"He says he is not guilty," said Ronald.
"He'll say anything to save his neck, but he is guilty; I'll see him hanged, till he is dead."
There was something so repulsive in the vindictiveness of this woman, that both the young men were disgusted, and left the room followed by Mrs. Verschoyle, who was laughing to herself in a satisfied manner.
"Why don't you thank me?" she said, savagely, to Ronald; "I have prevented Carmela from marrying another man, and secured your happiness."