"It is not true," muttered Mrs Gabriel, her lips quivering.
"It is true; you know it is!" said the other woman. "A word from Pratt, and you would have been turned out of possession here. He held his tongue so long as you took the child and brought him up. I have held my tongue also, because I was afraid of Pratt. But now he has told my secret about Lord Morven, I want money on my own account, so as to get away from him across the seas."
Mrs Gabriel drummed on the table. She saw that this woman was too much for her. "What you say is perfectly true," she said. "I met Pratt in Switzerland when I was a young girl. We were married in Geneva, and I afterwards found out what a brute he was. We parted. Afterwards I heard that he was dead, and regarded myself as free to marry Gabriel."
"Oh, that was one of Pratt's jokes," said Mrs Jeal, easily. "He was always a merry sort of brute. But, you see, I can turn you out."
"Not without Pratt's aid," said Mrs Gabriel, fiercely. "I won't give up the property to go to the Crown! I love power, and I intend to keep what I have. Pratt made me take that child, and lie about him. He made me introduce him to Colester society, and for years he has taken money from me. After doing all this, do you think I'll give it up? No; I'll fight!"
Mrs Jeal laughed unpleasantly. "I can put a weapon into your hand to fight with," she said; "that is, if you give me a thousand pounds."
"What do you mean" panted Mrs Gabriel, throwing herself forward and seizing Mrs Jeal by the shoulders. "Can you?—will you?—"
"If you give me a thousand pounds," replied the other woman, quite unmoved, and looking up with her wicked eyes into Mrs Gabriel's agitated face.
"What do you know? Quick—tell me!" Mrs Gabriel shook her.
"Don't shake me," said Mrs Jeal, tartly, twisting herself free. "If you want to know my secret, I'll tell it to you—I am Pratt's lawful wife."