“And she does wish it,” interposed Margaret.
“Naturally,” said Thorndyke. “The difficulty is in respect of ways and means. Have you considered the question of procedure, Rodney?”
“It seems to me,” was the reply, “that the ways and means are provided by the letter itself. I suggest that the terms of that letter and the circumstances in which it was written, afford evidence of desertion, or at least good grounds for action.”
“You may be right,” said Thorndyke, “but I doubt if it would be accepted as evidence of an intention not to return. It seems to me that a court would require something more definite. I suppose an action for restitution, as a preliminary, would not be practicable?”
Rodney shook his head emphatically, and Margaret pronounced a most decided refusal. “I don’t want restitution,” she exclaimed, “and I would not agree to it. I would not receive him back on any terms.”
“He wouldn’t be likely to come back,” said Thorndyke; “and if he did not, his failure to comply with the order of the court would furnish definite grounds for further action.”
“But he might come back, at least temporarily,” objected Margaret, “if only by way of retaliation.”
“Yes,” agreed Rodney, “it is perfectly possible; in, fact, it is rather the sort of thing that Purcell would do—come back, make himself unpleasant and then go off again. No; I am afraid that cat won’t jump.”
“Then,” said Thorndyke, “we are in difficulties. We want the marriage dissolved, but we haven’t as much evidence as the court would require.”
“Probably more evidence could be obtained,” suggested Rodney, “and of a different kind. Didn’t Penfield say something about an associate or companion? Well, that is where our knowledge of Purcell’s whereabouts should help us. If it were possible to locate him exactly and keep him under observation, evidence of the existence of that companion might be forthcoming, and then the case would be all plain sailing.”