Like a revelation had been these few words that he had thus far overheard.
That the woman was mollified by his caresses was shown by the tone of her voice when she next spoke.
“I am sure, Demas, that you do not care for any other woman, and yet at times I cannot think but that you must, and it drives me nearly mad with jealousy. I long thought that you cared a good deal for this namesake of mine that you used to go to see once in a while.”
“Pish! Helen; I never cared a copper for her. But, when I saw that she was fool enough to fall in love with me, I believed it would not be a bad idea to keep it alive, for even then the plot we are working out had begun to frame itself in my mind.
“I never believed, as you did, that she was really the daughter of Field.”
“That was the result of your jealousy. It made you nearsighted where she was concerned. I wish I was as sure of some other things as I am that she is really his child.”
“You think that she will marry you for the asking?”
“If I had not been sure of it, do you suppose that I would have gone into the scheme under the circumstances that I have? Of course I am sure of it.”
“How can you be?”
“How do I know that you love me and are the best and most daring woman in the world, where my best interests are concerned, my dear?”