But, passing the heads of the horses, he saw the reason for Lannigan’s attitude.
Ida was sitting on the coach step covering him with a revolver, having threatened to put a ball into him if he stirred.
“Get up, Lannigan,” said Nick. “You can put up that revolver, Ida.”
Turning to Ellison, Nick said:
“Mr. Ellison, I was only commissioned to discover the mystery of your disappearance and find you. I shall not attempt to do anything to these rascals on my commission. It is for you to determine whether you will make a charge against them and arrest them. I want to say to you that if you care to consider the wishes of Mr. Sanborn and the lady you married yesterday, you will do nothing. It is for you to determine whether you can go clean handed to your friends.”
“I think I understand you,” said Mr. Ellison, “you refer to the story of my having been married some years ago in England.”
“I do,” replied Nick.
“It is true that I was married, most unfortunately. I was informed months ago that my wife was dead, as I had heard two years or more before.”
“I understand that,” replied Nick; “and that your wife made her appearance in this country on the day of your wedding to Miss Sanborn.”
“That is what I was informed, and the fact that she was nearby induced me to leave the house as I did. But the fact is, Mr. Carter, the woman I met in that coach was not my wife. She was my wife’s sister, who looks much like her. It was a fraud played upon me. It was my discovery of it that led to my being chloroformed and kept in confinement. My wife is dead.”