Semingham promised to ask her; and, although the Baron was fit to see n.o.body the next day--for he had moved swiftly towards his journey"s end in those twenty-four hours--yet Mrs. Dennison came and was admitted; and, at sight of the Baron, who lay yellow and gasping, forgot both her acting and, for an instant, the reality which it hid.
"Oh!" she cried before she could stop herself, "how ill you look! Let me make you comfortable!"
The Baron did not deny her. He had something to say to her.
"When does your husband come?" he asked.
"To-morrow," said she briefly.
She did all she could for his comfort, and then sat down by his bedside.
He had an interval of some freedom from oppression and his mind was clear and concentrated.
"I want to tell you," he began, "something that I have done." He paused, and added a question, "Ruston does not come back to Dieppe, I suppose?"
"I think not. He is detained on business," she answered, "and he will be more tied when my husband leaves."
"Your husband will not long be concerned in the Omof.a.ga," said he.
She started; the Baron told her what he had told Semingham.
"He will soon resign his place on the Board, you will see," he ended.
She sat silent.
"He will have nothing more to do with it, you will see;" and, turning to her, he asked with a sudden spurt of vigour, "Do you know why?"
"How should I?" she answered steadily.
"And I--I have done my part too. I have left him some money (she knew that the Baron did not mean her husband) and all the shares I held."
"You"ve done that?" she cried, with a sudden light in her eyes.
"You do not want to know why?"
"Oh, I know you admired him. You told me so."
"Yes, that in part. I did admire him. He was what I have never been. I wish he was here now. I should like to look at that face of his before I die. But it was not for his sake that I left him the money. Why, he could get it without me if he needed it! You don"t ask me why?"
In his excitement he had painfully pulled himself higher up on his pillows, and his head was on the level with hers now. He looked right into her eyes. She was very pale, but calm and self-controlled.
"I don"t know," she said. "Why have you?"
"It will make him independent of your husband," said the Baron.
Mrs. Dennison dropped her eyes and raised them again in a swift, questioning glance.
"Yes, and of you. He need not look to you now."
He paused and added, slowly, punctuating every word,
"You will not be necessary to him now."
Mrs. Dennison met his gaze full and straight; the Baron stretched out his hand.
"Ah, forgive me!" he exclaimed.
"There is nothing to forgive," said she.
"I saw; I knew; I have felt it. Now he will go away; he will not lean on you now. I have set him where he can stand alone."
A smile, half scornful and half sad, came on her face.
"You hate me," said the Baron. "But I am right."
"I was--we were never necessary to him," said she. "Ah, Baron, this is no news you give me. I know him better than that."
He raised himself higher still, panting as he rested on his elbow. His head craned forward towards her as he whispered,
"I"m a dying man. You can tell me."
"If you were a dead man----" she burst out pa.s.sionately. Then she suddenly recovered herself.
"My dear Baron," she went on, "I"m very glad you"ve done this for Mr.
Ruston."
He sank down on his pillows with a weary sigh.
"Let him alone, let him alone," he moaned. "You thought yourself strong."
"I suppose you mean kindly," she said, speaking very coldly. "Indeed, that you should think of me at all just now shows it. But, Baron, you are disquieting yourself without cause."
"I"m an old man, and a sick man," he pleaded, "and you, my dear----"
"Ah, suppose I have been--whatever you like--indiscreet? Well----?"
She paused, for he made a feebly impatient gesture. Mrs. Dennison kept silence for a moment; then in a low tone she said,
"Baron, why do you speak to a woman about such things, unless you want her to lie to you?"
The Baron, after a moment, gave his answer, that was no answer.
"He is gone," he said.
"Yes, he is gone--to look after his railway."
"It is finished then?" he half asked, half implored, and just caught her low-toned reply.
"Finished? Who for?" Then she suddenly raised her voice, crying, "What is it to you? Why can"t I be let alone? How dare you make me talk about it?"