“I’ll read it,” he said with a triumphant laugh. “I kept it as a souvenir. The man you call husband will no doubt be very pleased to see it.” Then he read the words:
“In spite of my love for you, Ralph, I cannot suffer longer. Certain hidden things in your life frighten me. Farewell. Forget me.—Jean.”
For a few seconds she was silent. Her face was white as paper.
Then, with a sudden outburst, she gasped, in a low, terrified voice, and putting up her arms with a wild gesture:
“No, no! You must not show that to him. You won’t, Ralph—for my sake, you won’t. Will you?”
CHAPTER XXV.
TO PAY THE PRICE.
“Well?” asked Ansell, looking at his wife with a distinctly evil grin.