‘They refer to Madeline?9
‘I believe so,’ he answered, rising; ‘and now—oh,
God!—I begin to see what has driven my darling away. She feared some infamous persecution; she dreaded these infernal slanders; she read these very words. But I will follow her. I will tell her——’
‘James, dear James, listen to me!’
‘Well, well!’
‘Are these insinuations true? Is there any foundation for the statement that—that when you married Madeline there was something dreadful, of which you knew nothing, in her past life?’
‘It is a lie!’ cried Forster, with strange energy. ‘She never deceived me—she is incapable of deceit—she is a martyr! Do you think that I doubt her? If you dream so, you little know either of us. She deceived me in nothing.’
‘But there was some scandal, and you heard of it?’
‘Whatever there was, I knew, answered Forster, firmly; ‘but I will not discuss it—it is sacrilege!’
He made a movement as if to leave the room, but Margaret, who had not yet applied the knife to her own satisfaction, again restrained him.