A woman's debt

by William Le Queux

But recent events had rendered him very distrustful and suspicious; and the wording of the letter was very positive. One of the sentences in it was strangely significant: “I have reason to know that Mrs. Morrice has for a long time past been spending large sums of money in a certain direction.” He was advised to examine the costly jewels he had given her with a view to seeing that they had not been tampered with.

It would seem, assuming that there was any truth in the innuendos it contained, that it must be written by somebody who had an intimate knowledge of Mrs. Morrice. For a moment it flashed across him that from motives of revenge Richard Croxton had written it to stir up strife between the husband and wife. It could not be Rosabelle, she was too fond of her aunt, and besides, if she wanted to do her an injury, he was certain the girl was too high-minded to make use of such a shameful weapon as an anonymous letter. Probably it might have come from a discharged servant who chose this method of wreaking his or her spite.

But Morrice could not remember that any servant had been discharged for several years past. It was such a comfortable service that those who entered it stayed till natural circumstances brought about a severance of the relations.

Ought he not to show it to his wife, and accept the denial of the accusation which she would be sure to make? Had he not been rendered doubting and embittered by these recent happenings, that is just what he would have done. But the discovery of Richard Croxton’s unworthiness, for he still believed in his guilt, in spite of the doubting attitude of Lane, had rendered him morbidly suspicious of everybody, with perhaps the single exception of Rosabelle.

And yet, and yet, it could not be true. It would be absurd to pretend that their marriage had been one of ardent or romantic affection; neither of them had made any pretence of such to the other. He was tired of celibacy, he wanted somebody to be the mistress of his home, possibly to give him an heir. She, on her side, was quite naturally attracted by his wealth, by the position he could give her. But because a woman is swayed in her choice by worldly advantages, it does not follow that she is a person of dishonourable impulses.

After a good deal of rather perturbing reflection, he came to the conclusion with regard to this letter that, while he would not attach undue importance to it, he would not definitely ignore it. And certainly he would not follow what a few months ago would have seemed a natural impulse, go to her and show her the letter, and say in his blunt, straightforward way: “You see what it suggests. Is it a lie or a truth?”

He happened at this time to be very busy on one of those big financial schemes which had made his house so famous, and although at no particular moment was the incident entirely removed from his mind, it was greatly overshadowed by the almost incessant calls upon his time and thoughts in connection with this huge foreign loan. He thought of it, as it were, only to put it aside to a more convenient season.

A trifling incident brought it back to his recollection in full force. They were attending a big function at a certain ducal house to which all the élite of London had been invited. At such an important gathering every woman would naturally wish to appear her best, to wear her smartest clothes, to don her most valuable jewellery. Mrs. Morrice was as proud of her appearance as most women, she would certainly not wish to be outshone by her neighbours.

For some days past the two women had talked of this function, had discussed who was likely to be invited and as likely excluded, and settled what they were going to wear. Rosabelle had ordered a new frock for the occasion and was much surprised that her aunt had not done the same, but was going in one that had already done her good service.

This entertainment was fixed to take place a few days after she had overheard that suspicious conversation in the boudoir. The girl thought she understood now the reason of her aunt’s economy, not only on this particular occasion but for a long time past. The money which would have gone to her dressmaker in the ordinary course had been diverted in the direction of Archie Brookes, to pay his pressing debts, to enable him to avert disgrace for the time being.