For was this true? So soon after his fathers death! Was there some one whom he had met, some one beautiful—fair to see?
“What is it to me?” she said scornfully. “He is not worthy of a second thought. Better Jessop’s wife, even if he sinks lower still.”
She listened and heard steps, then the front door closed, and lastly the sound of wheels. Then lying back in the chair, she prepared to rest there for the night, while Jessop sat up in bed, waiting for her to come, thoroughly sobered now.
For as soon as Wrigley had helped him up to and across the chamber, Jessop had felt two nervous hands seize him by the throat, and he was flung quickly and silently back on the bed.
“Look here, you miserable, brainless idiot!” whispered Wrigley savagely, as he held him down.
“Here, what are you doing?”
“Silence, fool! or I’ll choke the miserable life out of you. Now are you sober enough to understand? Mind this; if by any words of yours—any of your cursed blabbings, this business comes to grief, I warn you to run for your life.”
“What?”
“For there are those in it now who would not scruple much about making you pay.”
“Pay?” faltered Jessop, as he gazed in the fierce face so close to his.