‘O—I am glad to hear it,’ answered Paula, with a sudden cool mannerliness.
‘He has been misrepresented,’ said Mrs. Goodman. ‘That’s all.’
‘Well?’ said Paula, with her eyes bent on the floor.
‘I have been feeling that I ought to tell you clearly, dear Paula,’ declared her friend. ‘It is absolutely false about his telegraphing to you for money—it is absolutely false that his character is such as that dreadful picture represented it. There—that’s the substance of it, and I can tell you particulars at any time.’
But Paula would not be told at any time. A dreadful sorrow sat in her face; she insisted upon learning everything about the matter there and then, and there was no withstanding her.
When it was all explained she said in a low tone: ‘It is that pernicious, evil man Dare—yet why is it he?—what can he have meant by it! Justice before generosity, even on one’s wedding-day. Before I become any man’s wife this morning I’ll see that wretch in jail! The affair must be sifted.... O, it was a wicked thing to serve anybody so!—I’ll send for Cunningham Haze this moment—the culprit is even now on the premises, I believe—acting as clerk of the works!’ The usually well-balanced Paula was excited, and scarcely knowing what she did went to the bell-pull.
‘Don’t act hastily, Paula,’ said her aunt. ‘Had you not better consult Sir William? He will act for you in this.’
‘Yes—He is coming round in a few minutes,’ said Charlotte, jumping at this happy thought of Mrs. Goodman’s. ‘He’s going to run across to see how you are getting on. He will be here by ten.’
‘Yes—he promised last night.’
She had scarcely done speaking when the prancing of a horse was heard in the ward below, and in a few minutes a servant announced Sir William De Stancy.