"He is a hypocrite and a scoundrel," declared Keith, firmly. "He is married, and his wife is living now. He abandoned her, and she is insane. I know her."
"You know her! Ferdy married!" She paused in wonder. His certainty carried conviction with it.
"I have his marriage certificate."
"You have?" A sort of amaze passed over her face.
He took out the paper and gave it to her. She gazed at it with staring eyes. "That is his hand." She rose with a blank face, and walked to the window; then, after a moment, came back and sat down. She had the expression of a person lost. "Tell me about it."
Keith told her. He also told her of Norman's losses.
Again that look of amazement crossed her face; her eyes became almost blank.
"Norman's fortune impaired! I cannot understand it--he told me--Oh, there must be some mistake!" she broke out vehemently. "You are deceiving me. No! I don't mean that, of course,--I know you would not,--but you have been deceived yourself." Her face was a sudden white.
Keith shook his head. "No!"
"Why, look here. He cannot be hard up. He has kept up my allowance and met every demand--almost every demand--I have made on him." She was grasping at straws.