"I shall deal with Geary later," he said thickly, "in the meanwhile I can deal with you."
"We are quite ready," said Gerald tranquilly.
"Who are we?" questioned Rebb scathingly.
"Myself and my wife."
"She is not your wife. A marriage with a madwoman is not legal."
Mavis shuddered, and clung to Gerald's arm. It was the first time that she had been called mad to her face. "Oh, guardian," she wailed, "how can you say that of me when I was so fond of you?"
"You had every reason to be fond of me," said Rebb harshly, and his eyes gleamed as he thought the girl was weakening. "I gave you a happy home, in this delightful place, because your brain was not strong enough to bear the troubles of this world."
Mavis withdrew her hand from Gerald's arm, and looked scornfully at the liar, whom she now saw in his true colors. "You kept me here that you might enjoy the money which my father left to me," she declared, in haughty tones, "you betrayed the trust your dead friend placed in you. I was a weak girl, and an ignorant one, to believe in your lies: but now," she added, stepping forward a pace, "now, Major Rebb," and her use of the name showed the attitude she intended to adopt, "I call upon you to give me back my money, and leave this place, which belongs to me."
"No madwoman can possess money," said Mrs. Crosbie shrilly. She saw the Major's income was about to be lost, and that it would be useless to marry him. "Michael, call the police and have her removed."
"One moment," said Gerald quietly. "You go too fast, Mrs. Crosbie. But I am glad to see you at last as you really are. I thought you were my friend. I now see that you are my enemy. My wife is perfectly sane, and, as her husband, I shall see that her sanity is proved."