So she did, repeating their conversation almost word for word. Dick’s imagination was vivid, and easily pictured the scene there in the place of its enactment. He saw the wretched, crippled man dragging himself away upon his crutch out into the cold London night, away anywhere from the cruel woman whom he had married in love and faith. It touched his pity, he even felt remorseful for his share in the business.
“Poor devil!” he said aloud. “And, as an inducement to him to ‘remain dead,’ did you tell him that you had just engaged yourself to another man?”
“No,” she said furiously; “I told him nothing of the sort. I could not bear the sight of him all mutilated like that; it made me sick. Besides,” she went on, “what had he to offer? His reputation was gone, and so have the rank and fortune which I expected.”
“That’s frank; but he is scarcely responsible, is he?” answered Dick drily. “You see, poor Rupert was always an awful fool. It is even conceivable that he may have believed that you married him for himself. Really, it is a funny story. But I say, Edith, has it occurred to you, being the kind of man he is, what an utter devil he must think you?”
“I don’t care what he thinks,” she said wildly. “The whole conditions are changed, and I could not be expected to live with him as my husband; indeed, we should have nothing to live on.”
“You think you don’t care now, but perhaps you will some day,” sneered Dick. “Well, what’s the game? Am I to keep this dark?”
“I think you had better for your own sake,” she answered, and added meaningly: “With Rupert dead, and dead I am sure he will remain, there is only one child’s life between you and an inheritance of a million of money, or its worth. But with him alive, it is another matter, so perhaps you will do well not to resurrect him.”
“Perhaps I shall,” said Dick. “By Jove! Edith, you are a cool hand,” and he looked at her, not without admiration. “And now please tell me exactly what our relations are to be in the future? As I don’t want to be mixed up with a bigamy case—for fellows like that have an awkward trick of reappearing—marriage seems out of the question, doesn’t it?”
“Absolutely!” answered Edith.
“Then might I ask what is in the question?”