She burst in on McNiven and Jim and demanded a share in the battle.
When Jim told her of his latest blunder she spoke up, stoutly:
"You did the right thing. To try to buy them off would be to
confess guilt. The damage is done. The whole world has read the
lie. Now we'll make it read the truth. There must be some way for
me to defend my name, and I want to know what it is."
McNiven told her that the law allowed her to enter the case and
seek vindication, but he advised her against it. She thanked him
for the information and rejected the advice. She was gray with
battle-ardor and her very nostrils were fierce.
"I'm sorry to do anything to interfere with your welfare, Jim, for
if I win she wins you; but you can get rid of her some other way.
The little beast! She thinks she can make use of me as a bridge to
cross over to her Marquess, but she can't!"
"Her Marquess?" Jim mumbled. "What does that mean?"
Charity regretted her impetuous speech, but McNiven explained it.
Jim was pretty well deadened to shocks by this time, but the news
that his wife had been disloyal found an untouched spot in his
heart to stab. It gave him a needed resentment, however, and a
much-needed something to feel wronged about.
He caught a spark of Charity's blazing anger, and they resolved to
fight the case to the limit. And that was where it took them.
CHAPTER X
Once the battle was joined, a fierce desire for haste impelled all
of these people.
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