“You have been fooled,” she said. “She cannot be his wife, since I am.” He turned round upon her suddenly. “Perhaps it’s you that have been fooled.” “What do you mean?” “Perhaps her story is true, and I may still have the pleasure of asking for your pardon. The registers in Somerset House will tell me.” “Do you mean to accuse my husband of marrying me while his first wife was alive? I would not believe a hundred registers!” “Either he or she must be lying,” said Gerard. “She is the liar!” cried Irene, thrilled with the magnificence of her faith. “I suppose she told it you in the same calm frame of mind as when I last saw her.” It was Irene’s one ungenerosity. But a woman is not apt to choose her weapons when the man she loves is slandered by another woman. Primitive instincts get beyond control. But her words were an illumination to Gerard. “That very evening she came to tell us her secret.” “I will never believe it. And I would sooner die than insult him by asking. There is no need for us to talk further. I appreciate your motive in coming.” Her words were a signal of dismissal. She moved towards the bell. But quick steps were heard on the stairs, and in a moment Hugh entered the room. He stood for a second transfixed with amazement at the sight of Gerard. Then quickly recovered himself. “What are you doing here?” he asked haughtily. He crossed the room, and stood by Irene’s side, hand on hips, looking very fiercely at his enemy. Involuntarily Irene slid her hand beneath his arm. And so the two confronted Gerard. A spasm of the old jealous envy passed through his heart. If he had been a primaeval savage he would have leaped at Hugh’s throat. “I have come from the Mrs. Colman who resides at Nice,” he replied. Hugh’s heart gave a great throb. For a moment the ground seemed to be slipping from under his feet. He collected himself quickly. “Explain yourself,” he said. “I have lately had the pleasure of meeting Miss Minna Hart at Nice. She confessed to a secret marriage with you, and entered upon such explanations as proved to me how baseless were my suspicions of--the present Mrs. Colman.” “And you came to take your revenge. It is worthy of you.” “Mrs. Colman will bear me out when I say that I came with other motives. Your second marriage was an entire surprise to me. As great a one as the first.” “But the girl was lying to you--duping you. Can’t you understand?” cried Irene, breathlessly, looking from one man to the other, waiting in an agony of mystification for Hugh’s indignant denial. Hugh set his teeth and strode up to Gerard, and looked him close in the eyes. “Damn you!” he said, “couldn’t you have spared us this!” “Then it is true?” cried Irene, aghast. “That that girl is your wife--and I am not?” Hugh turned quickly from Gerard, and moved a pace nearer to her, and said, with a certain sad stateliness: “Yes, dear, it is quite true.”