第39章

"As far as I understand," he said, "you appear to take it for granted that no innocent woman would have fainted on first seeing you.I have something to tell you which will alter your opinion.On her arrival in England this lady informed my aunt that she had met with you accidentally on the French frontier, and that she had seen you (so far as she knew) struck dead at her side by a shell.Remember that, and recall what happened just now.Without a word to warn her of your restoration to life, she finds herself suddenly face to face with you, a living woman--and this at a time when it is easy for any one who looks at her to see that she is in delicate health.What is there wonderful, what is there unaccountable, in her fainting under such circumstances as these?"The question was plainly put.Where was the answer to it?

There was no answer to it.Mercy's wisely candid statement of the manner in which she had first met with Grace, and of the accident which had followed had served Mercy's purpose but too well.It was simply impossible for persons acquainted with that statement to attach a guilty meaning to the swoon.The false Grace Roseberry was still as far beyond the reach of suspicion as ever, and the true Grace was quick enough to see it.She sank into the chair from which she had risen; her hands fell in hopeless despair on her lap.

"Everything is against me," she said."The truth itself turns liar, and takes her side." She paused, and rallied her sinking courage."No!" she cried, resolutely, "I won't submit to have my name and my place taken from me by a vile adventuress! Say what you like, I insist on exposing her; I won't leave the house!"The servant entered the room, and announced that the cab was at the door.

Grace turned to Julian with a defiant wave of her hand."Don't let me detain you," she said."I see I have neither advice nor help to expect from Mr.Julian Gray."Julian beckoned to the servant to follow him into a corner of the room.

"Do you know if the doctor has been sent for?" he asked.

"I believe not, sir.It is said in the servants' hall that the doctor is not wanted."Julian was too anxious to be satisfied with a report from the servants' hall.He hastily wrote on a slip of paper: "Has she recovered?" and gave the note to the man, with directions to take it to Lady Janet.

"Did you hear what I said?" Grace inquired, while the messenger was absent in the dining room.

"I will answer you directly," said Julian.

The servant appeared again as he spoke, with some lines in pencil written by Lady Janet on the back of Julian's note."Thank God, we have revived her.In a few minutes we hope to be able to take her to her room."The nearest way to Mercy's room was through the library.Grace's immediate removal had now become a necessity which was not to be trifled with.Julian addressed himself to meeting the difficulty the instant he was left alone with Grace.

"Listen to me," he said."The cab is waiting, and I have my last words to say to you.You are now (thanks to the consul's recommendation) in my care.Decide at once whether you will remain under my charge, or whether you will transfer yourself to the charge of the police."Grace started."What do you mean?" she asked, angrily.

"If you wish to remain under my charge," Julian proceeded, "you will accompany me at once to the cab.In that case I will undertake to give you an opportunity of telling your story to my own lawyer.He will be a fitter person to advise you than I am.Nothing will induce we to believe that the lady whom you have accused has committed, or is capable of committing, such a fraud as you charge her with.You will hear what the lawyer thinks, if you come with me.If you refuse, I shall have no choice but to send into the next room, and tell them that you are still here.The result will be that you will find yourself in charge of the police.Take which course you like: I will give you a minute to decide in.And remember this--if I appear to express myself harshly, it is your conduct which forces me to speak out.I mean kindly toward you; I am advising you honestly for your good."He took out his watch to count the minute.

Grace stole one furtive glance at his steady, resolute face.She was perfectly unmoved by the manly consideration for her which Julian's last words had expressed.All she understood was that he was not a man to be trifled with.Future opportunities would offer themselves of returning secretly to the house.She determined to yield--and deceive him.

"I am ready to go," she said, rising with dogged submission."Your turn now," she muttered to herself, as she turned to the looking- glass to arrange her shawl."My turn will come."Julian advanced toward her, as if to offer her his arm, and checked himself.Firmly persuaded as he was that her mind was deranged--readily as he admitted that she claimed, in virtue of her affliction, every indulgence that he could extend to her--there was something repellent to him at that moment in the bare idea of touching her.The image of the beautiful creature who was the object of her monstrous accusation--the image of Mercy as she lay helpless for a moment in his arms--was vivid in his mind while he opened the door that led into the hall, and drew back to let Grace pass out before him.He left the servant to help her into the cab.The man respectfully addressed him as he took his seat opposite to Grace.