"Then, you are a liar, and I will treat you as such!" I responded firmly.
We were standing facing one another, and I saw in his eyes an evil glint which told me plainly that he was no mean antagonist.
"You pay me a compliment," he said coolly. "I cannot see what motive you have in thus insulting me."
"It is no insult," I cried. "You are my enemy. You and your accomplice, Tattersett, devised an ingenious trap, and then called me in for professional consultation. The trap was well baited, and, as you intended, I fell into it. I thank G.o.d for one thing--namely, that I did not commit murder at your instigation."
He smiled again, but no word escaped him.
"You cannot think that I am in ignorance of the plot, or that I am unaware that, owing to the deception you have practised upon me, Beryl Wynd is my wife."
"And what connexion have I with all this?" he demanded. "If Beryl Wynd is your wife, what is it to do with me, pray?"
"The marriage was effected by conspiracy," I answered. "She was your victim--just as I unfortunately was. The penalty for such conspiracy is penal servitude."
"Well?" he inquired, smiling again. "And I take it that you suspect me of being implicated in the conspiracy? All I can reply is that you are entirely mistaken."
"I am not mistaken," I said hotly. "It was yourself who tempted me, holding the banknotes in your hand--"
"And if you consented, as you allege, you became equally implicated in the conspiracy," he observed, interrupting me.
I had never before looked at the matter in such a light. His words were true. I had sold myself to the conspirators--had become an accessory, and was therefore just as liable to prosecution as they were!
"You attempted to suborn me to commit murder," I added.
"It"s a lie," answered the Tempter flatly.
"But I can prove it," I a.s.serted.
"How?"
"I have proof," I replied ambiguously, for I did not intend to show my hand.
"Then you are at liberty to use it for whatever purpose you like," he answered defiantly. "But we were alone."
"Ah!" I exclaimed quickly. "Then you admit your ident.i.ty?"
"I admit nothing."
"Until I can show proof positive, eh? Until I can bring those who will bear witness that, on the twenty-fourth of June, you were at number 94, Queen"s-gate Gardens; that you sent for me; that on my arrival you tempted me to marry Beryl Wynd; that you accompanied me to the church of St Ann"s, and that, having accepted the promise of payment, you afterwards attempted to induce me to take her life."
"Lies--all of it."
"We shall see. You tried to take my life. Revenge is now mine," I added in a hard, distinct voice.
It may have been only my fancy, yet I could not help noticing that the word revenge caused him to shrink, and regard me with some misgiving.
"How?" he inquired.
"No," I responded firmly; "we are enemies. That is sufficient. I have discovered the whole plot, therefore rest a.s.sured that those who victimised both Beryl and myself, and have made dastardly attempts upon our lives, shall not go unpunished."
I had altered my tactics, deeming it best to a.s.sume a deeper knowledge of the affair than that which I really possessed. It was a delicate matter; this accusation must be dealt with diplomatically.
"My private opinion of you, sir, is that you are a confounded fool," he said.
"I may be," I responded. "But I intend that you, who enmeshed into your plot a defenceless woman, and who abducted me aboard so cleverly, in order to gain time, shall bear the exposure and punishment that you merit."
He nodded slowly as though perfectly comprehending my meaning.
"Then I take it that Beryl is aware of your actual alliance with her?"
he asked, his small eyes flashing at me.
But I made no satisfactory answer. I was wary of him, for I knew him to be a clever miscreant. His tone betrayed an anxiety to know the exact extent of Beryl"s knowledge.
"Beryl is my wife, and my interests are hers," I replied. "It is sufficient that I am aware of the whole truth."
"You think so," he laughed with sarcasm. "Well, you are at liberty to hold your own opinion."
"The fact is," I said, "that you accepted Sir Henry"s invitation here, never dreaming that you would come face to face with me. I am the last person in the world you desired to meet."
"The encounter has given me the utmost pleasure, I a.s.sure you," he replied with a sneer.
"Just as it will not only to yourself but to a certain other."
"Who?"
"A person whom you know well--an intimate friend of yours."
"I don"t follow you."
"It is a woman. Think of your female friends."
"What is her name?"
"La Gioia."
"La Gioia?" he gasped glaring at me.
His face was livid and his surprise apparent. I saw that he had never dreamt that I knew of her existence.
"You see, I may be a confounded fool, as you have declared," I said.
"But I have not been idle during these past months. La Gioia"s revenge is mine also."
He made no response. My words had, as I intended, produced an overwhelming effect upon him. He saw, that if La Gioia"s secret was out he stood in deadliest peril. I had impressed him with an intimate knowledge of the whole affair.
It was at that moment he showed himself full of resourceful villainy.
"The vengeance of La Gioia will fall upon the woman who is your wife-- not upon yourself."