"You tell me he lied?"
"I don't know just what he said to you.... And I want you to realise this: the fault was on my side. I loved him. I love him still. I shall love him always. Always, whatever happens."
Then she added, because in the playing of her part she had determined to spare herself no degradation: "I care nothing for what people say. They may sneer and point at me, but nothing shall keep us apart."
Olive went chalk-white with anger. She had not travelled the long journey to Wiesbaden to be fooled in this way. The ground had been cut from under her feet by Elaine's most unexpected attitude, and the situation needed some drastic counter-move on her part.
"A pretty story!" she retorted. "If you imagine your childish bluffing would deceive me, you've a lot to learn yet! Clifford was not lying, and you are! That's the long and short of it!"
"Then call him here and ask him before me!"
Olive saw her opportunity. She could find out Rivière's address from Dr. Hegelmann or from one of the staff of the nursing home, and go to confront him before Elaine could see and warn him of the new development. It would be strategic to allay suspicion of her coming move, however.
"I want to see nothing more of Clifford," she replied. "We've agreed to part. He's to go on with his life as John Rivière. If you like to marry him as John Rivière, you're quite welcome to do so as far as I'm concerned."
"You mean that you want to get permission from the Courts to presume death, and then take possession of his property?"
"Any such arrangement is entirely a private matter between my husband and myself."