The Slave of Silence

t that evil, scowling face. To be with that man always, to share his home and his company, seemed to her a most impossible thing. She had lost her father; the future was black and hopel

ent, whether she was married or not. It might possibly be that in the eyes of the law she was this man's wife;

ichford said hoarsely. "Ha

. Certainly he would not have stopped at violence if vi

nce you may obtain possession of the telegram. But I warn you that I shall not yield without a struggle that wil

A blow full in the face would have laid her senseless at his feet, then he could have helped himself to that priceless telegram. But Richford had bee

was an urgent reason why I should see him. We need not go into that now, for it was purely on matters of business. If you ask me how I got into

to our discussion?"

her without anybody being the wiser. I was going to show him the very telegram which has fallen into your hands. But I found that Sir Charles w

y would have known the truth in a few minutes. And, that being so, there would have been no marriage. You took all the risks, and fortune favoured the bold as fortune alwa

y was in her hands now. And Richford had never coveted her so passionately

should have respected my wedding vows and made you as good a wife as I could. I should have hated and loathed it, but I should have become accustomed to it in time. But this vile action of yours makes all the difference. When you and I part aft

led rage and terror ca

a living? You are my wife; you can never marry anybody so long as I am aliv

ey are worth a good deal. I can go into a shop if the wo

her back on you if you do

you are not going to say anything-for some r

ts, the diamonds and the li

iceman keeping guard over them now-your diamonds are amongst the lot. I will se

nly that he had lost everything, that he was baffled and beaten. In a sudden spasm of rage he caught the girl by the sh

d he had wrenched his hands away. With a snarl Richford turned upon the man whom he knew to be his successful rival, and aimed a blow at him.

he panted. "But there are other ways, my frie

tched the retreating figure. She knew perfectly well that that blow would not

that man to lay hands upon you and so soon after y

ce said. "We have come to an understanding. Never sh

Mark said fervently. "Someth

pression of the deepest disgust came over his face as Beatrice finished her story and ha

ram. But since you have done so, the game is all in your hands. You are quite right to defy that fellow and refuse to live with him. He dar

to give me a home. When my father's affairs come to be settled up there will be a little less than nothing for me

thing. He felt that he had been tricked out of the only girl for whom he had ever cared, but, thank goodness, he would not have to think

to that man by the cruel sport of chance, you still belong to me. There can be no

andal-mongers for many a day to come. All these thoughts crowded into Mark's mind as he made his way down into the big dining-room for luncheon. He was sad and sick at heart, but man must eat, all the same. He did not look as if h

rankly detested. He expressed no surprise at seeing Richford here; it was natural under the circumstances

ate menu with its imposing array of dishes. "What's the good of all that foreign cat's me

on was a little astonished. He had more than once heard Richford boast that he was positively a

gone to one of those City places I should have got my steak

isplayed with a queer gleam in his eyes and a clicking of the corners of his mouth. Just for

Richford gasped. "Who has ta

er speech. The waiter looked sympathetic; it was no

it before. It's a lot of salt, and it is exactly in the s

er away. Then he rose unsteadily from the table, and finished the rest of his brandy without any water at all. He crossed the room like a ghost. Directly he had passed the

drive, sir?" th

ington said hastily. "Do your work well, and it w