So—thought Guy, it has come to this—"Honor"—how pat it came from his vicious lips. He made up his mind at this juncture to listen to every word, feeling sure to find some valuable clue before this night was over. The voice of assumed anxiety broke from Vivian's lips and interrupted Guy's thought.
"I hope you are on the way to complete recovery at last Mr. Rayne," he said, "really I begin to feel anxious about you."
Guy fancied the old man shaking his head in the usual contemplative way as the words came—
"Oh no, my dear boy, my system has completely broken up now, my decline is a matter of months only, now."
Vivian was about to protest, when Mr. Rayne continued:
"And I don't mind much, time was when I felt life full of responsibilities that cheered me on, but now—my old age is almost a blank—"
Guy understood this illusion and winced, the unsteady voice still continued:
"Since Honor's welfare in the dim future, when I shall be dead and gone, promises to be safe, I have had no reluctance to die. I lived for her."
At these words Guy strained every nerve in his body and listened devouringly. Vivian spoke next,
"What surprises me," he said "is that Honor has not been snatched away long before this."