“Perhaps yes, if he was prevented from marrying your sister through having signed your death-warrant.”
“Yes, he might turn to you for comfort.”
“I hope so.”
“And failing in that quarter, you could, perhaps, marry Captain Caruth?”
“I believe that I could,” said the woman, who had received such an unlimited amount of adoration that she believed she was capable of bringing any man to her feet, as in truth she was, with very rare exceptions.
“And failing with him, you have Lieutenant Vassar Turpin to fall back upon?”
“Yes, all three of them splendid fellows, men of whom any woman might feel proud.”
“I grant that with exceeding candor, yet must say that they are too honorable men, have too high regard for the proud records they have won, and honor the names they have inherited, unsullied by a stain, too much to ally their lives with one wholly unworthy of them.”
“What do you mean?” and a strange look crept over the woman’s face, a look that was reflected from the dark, malignant countenance of the man.
“I will tell you just what I mean, and what they shall know.”