All that surprises me is that you and she should ever have
come together, or, having come together, that you should ever
have exchanged a word. You see, I am here to speak plain truths.
You are, I take it, a good sample of the hard, stubborn,
middle-class Briton. These three people of whom I have spoken,
belong--Miss Beatrice, perhaps, by force of circumstances--but
still they do belong to the land of Bohemia. However, when one
has got over the surprise of finding you on intimate terms with
Miss Beatrice, there comes a more amazing thing. You, with hard
common sense written everywhere in your face, have been prepared
at any moment, for all I know are prepared now, to make an utter
and complete idiot of yourself over Elizabeth Gardner."
Still Tavernake did not speak. Pritchard looked at him
curiously.
"Say," he went on, "I have come here to do you a service, if I
can. So far as I know at present, this very wonderful young lady
has kept on the right side of the law. But see here, Tavernake,
she's been on the wrong side of everything that's decent and
straight all her days. She married that poor creature for his
money, and set herself deliberately to drive him off his head.
Last night's tragedy was her doing, not his, though he, poor
devil, will have to end his days in an asylum, and the lady will
have his money to make herself more beautiful than ever with.
Now I am going to let you behind the scenes, my young friend."
Then Tavernake rose to his feet.
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