"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." "And through whom?" I cried. "Why, through yourself and your accomplice, Tattersett, who betrayed Beryl into her hands. The mystery of Whitton is to me no mystery, for I know the truth." He glared at me as though I were some evil vision, and I knew that by these words I was slowly thrusting home the truth. "What have I to do with the affair at Whitton?" he cried. "I know nothing of it?" "I may, perhaps, be enabled to prove differently," I said. "Do you then allege that I am implicated in the Colonel's death?" he exclaimed furiously. "I have my own opinion," I responded. "Remember that you once made a desperate and dastardly, attempt to kill me, fearing lest I should denounce you as having tried to bribe me to commit murder." His eyes glittered, and I saw that his anger was unbounded. We stood there in the calm sunset near the lakeside, and I could see that he would rid himself of me, if such a course was possible. But I thought of Beryl. Ah! how I loved her. That she had fallen a victim of the cleverly contrived conspiracy incensed me, and I resolved to show the scoundrel no quarter. "Well," he said at last, in a tone of defiance, "and after all these wild allegations, what can you do? Surely you do not think that I fear any statement that you can make?" "You may not fear any statement of mine, but I do not anticipate that you will invite La Gioia to reveal all she knows. The latter might place you in enforced confinement for a few years." "La Gioia is at liberty to say whatever she likes," he answered. "If she is actually a friend of Beryl's she will, no doubt, assist you; but at present she is her deadliest antagonist. Therefore, if you take my advice, you'll just calm yourself and await another opportunity for revenge at a latter date." His cool words caused my blood to boil. "You treat this affair as though it were a matter of little importance, sir!" I cried. "Let me tell you, however, that I have been your victim, and I intend to probe the matter to the bottom and ascertain your motives." "That you'll never do," he laughed. "I tell you I will!" I cried. "I am Beryl's husband, and she is no longer defenceless. You have to answer to me!" "I have answered you by saying that in future you are at liberty to act as you think fit. I merely warn you that La Gioia is no more your friend than she is your wife's."