Bristow, imperturbable, his motions quick and sure, tore up that page also, and started afresh:
"Later she believed I had embezzled in order to assure her ease and luxury from the date of our marriage.
"Her exaggerated sense of fair play, of obligation, was an aid to my representations of the situation.
"Although she no longer loved me and did love Withers, my hold on her, rather on her purse, could not be broken.
"She gave me the money in Atlantic City and Washington. I played the market, and lost. I no longer had my cunning in dealing with stocks.
"I came here as soon as I had learned of her presence in Furmville. At first, she was reasonable. Abrahamson knows that. I pawned several little things with him.
"At last she grew obstinate. She argued that, if she pawned any more of her jewels, she would be unable to redeem them because her father had failed in business.
"But I had to have funds. Several times I pointed this out to her when I saw her in Number Five—always after midnight, for my own protection as well as hers.
"Finally, my patience was exhausted. Last Monday night, or early Tuesday morning, I told her so, quite clearly.
"She argued, plead with me. All this was in whispers. The necessity of whispering so long irritated me.