She began to murmur something about duty and obedience, but he broke in, almost curtly:
"You owe him neither now, my dear young lady. Oh, how can I tell you? Only, I don't suppose you ever cared much for the—ahem!—disreputable old party—miser, and all that—but the truth is, there was an accident on the elevated road to-day, and Charles Farnham was badly injured and taken to the hospital. Just before we left New York we got news of his death."
[CHAPTER XVI.]
"WITH THIS RING I THEE WED."
"You have killed my mistress!" cried the maid angrily.
Nita had fallen unconscious at his feet.
"It is only a faint," he replied.
And between them she was soon restored to consciousness, although still dazed and white and trembling from the shock she had received.