Larssen scraped his chair scornfully. He would not comment with words at the present juncture. Matheson was convicting himself out of his own mouth—the revelation was unfolding excellently.
"You went to Arles for research?" pursued Olive.
"No; for a holiday."
"A holiday from what—from whom?"
"From financial matters."
"Why did you take the name of John Rivière?"
"Because I intended to take that name permanently."
Olive was startled. "You meant to leave me!" she exclaimed.
"I meant to disappear and give you your freedom and the greater part of my property," answered Matheson steadily.
"How freedom?"