"She has been all her life," said the Major, forced to answer, for he saw very plainly that Haskins would knock him down if he attempted to pass the archway. Not that the Major feared a fight, but his situation was so desperate that he wished to adjust things as quietly as possible. His threat to call the police was bluff, as Gerald knew, and because Gerald did know Rebb was furious.
"Prove that she has been mad all her life," said Haskins coolly. "Mavis has been with Mrs. Pelham Odin since she left here, and that very clever old woman cannot see that my wife is mad: nor can Macandrew, nor Arnold, nor anyone else."
"I can, I can!" cried Mrs. Crosbie, with a bright red spot burning on either cheek, and looked very angry.
"Ah! you are a prejudiced witness, seeing that you wish to marry Major Rebb, for the income he is now losing."
"That he has lost," interposed Tod, in a dry legal tone: "the conditions of Julian Durham's will have been fulfilled, and Mrs. Haskins now takes possession of her property."
"How can you prove that my wife is mad?" asked Gerald again, and taking no notice of the interruption, "have you had her examined by two doctors, according to law?"
"No," replied Rebb grudgingly.
"Then how dare you shut her up in this house? I shall bring an action against you, on behalf of my wife, for false imprisonment."
"You had better think twice before you do that," said the Major, in icy tones, "for I shall retort with an accusation of murder."
"You say that my wife murdered Bellaria?"