“I admit it,� he groaned at last. “I wrote the letters and bribed a servant to hide them in a desk at the Major’s house when his wife was away from home, in the hope that he might find them and believe that she was false to him. She knew nothing of them, nor did she ever receive a letter from me.�
“Oh, wretched man! How could you conceive of such infamy!� murmured Agnes, turning away her pallid face.
“It is to be hoped you will receive a just reward for your wickedness,� said Mrs. Wylie, who in the light of this scene could unravel all the mysteries that had so long puzzled her with regard to Mrs. Lucien’s past history.
“He shall receive it if there is any justice in this land of ours,� said Mark. “This is not the only crime he has to answer for. What could have been your object in this case, you dog?�
“Revenge!� Russell uttered the word with an evil sneer.
“Can you ever forgive me, Agnes?� Major Walden had turned from Russell and was looking at Agnes beseechingly.
“As I hope to be forgiven, Markham,� she replied solemnly.
“Thank you. It is more than I have a right to expect. I—� His voice broke in its utterance, and he turned away to recover his self-control.
“And now what shall we do with this fellow?� asked Nathan. “Turn him over to the police?�
“He certainly should not be allowed to go about leaving in his wake the slimy trail of the serpent,� responded Mark. “I’ll swear out a warrant charging him with abducting Esther McCleary.�