"Quite so. This is a matter which will be better managed by other hands than yours. Only--there are abundant ways and means of dealing with a person of his kind. What I want you to do now is not to worry. One moment! it's not a counsel of perfection! I see clearly what this means to you, what it has meant, but--forgive me for saying so--the burden has been made much heavier by your insisting on bearing it alone."
"I couldn't blurt out my shame to everyone--to anyone!"
"Well, you have told me now, thank goodness! And you may rely on this, that man sha'n't be allowed to come near you; if necessary, I will make it my business to prevent him. I will think things over to-night; be sure that I shall find a way out. To-morrow I will come and tell you what I've thought about, when the conditions are more normal."
"Rather than that he should again be able to claim me for his wife, even for an hour, I would kill him."
"Certainly; I will kill him for you if it comes to that. I have lived in countries where they make nothing of killing vermin of his particular type. But there'll be no necessity for such a drastic remedy. Now, I want you to go home and promise not to worry, because your case is now in hands which are well qualified to relieve you of all cause for apprehension of any sort or kind. I beg you will believe it. Good-night."
She hesitated, then put her hands up to her temples, as if her head was aching.
"I will say good-night to you. You go, I will stay. My brain's all in a whirl. I want to be alone--to steady it."
"I don't like to leave you, in such a place, at such an hour."
"Why not? While I've been abroad I've sometimes spent half the night in wandering alone over the mountains. Why am I not as safe here as there?"
"It's not a question of safety, no doubt you're safe enough. But--it's the idea."