Her words were a signal of dismissal. She moved towards the bell. But quick steps were heard on the stairs, and in a moment Hugh entered the room. He stood for a second transfixed with amazement at the sight of Gerard. Then quickly recovered himself.
“What are you doing here?” he asked haughtily.
He crossed the room, and stood by Irene’s side, hand on hips, looking very fiercely at his enemy. Involuntarily Irene slid her hand beneath his arm. And so the two confronted Gerard. A spasm of the old jealous envy passed through his heart. If he had been a primaeval savage he would have leaped at Hugh’s throat.
“I have come from the Mrs. Colman who resides at Nice,” he replied.
Hugh’s heart gave a great throb. For a moment the ground seemed to be slipping from under his feet. He collected himself quickly.
“Explain yourself,” he said.
“I have lately had the pleasure of meeting Miss Minna Hart at Nice. She confessed to a secret marriage with you, and entered upon such explanations as proved to me how baseless were my suspicions of—the present Mrs. Colman.”
“And you came to take your revenge. It is worthy of you.”
“Mrs. Colman will bear me out when I say that I came with other motives. Your second marriage was an entire surprise to me. As great a one as the first.”
“But the girl was lying to you—duping you. Can’t you understand?” cried Irene, breathlessly, looking from one man to the other, waiting in an agony of mystification for Hugh’s indignant denial.