Detective and mystery stories; England -- Fiction; Murder -- Investigation -- Fiction
"Geary! Geary!" shouted Rebb, rushing towards the fallen wall, and
mounting its ruins. There was no response, and Gerald fancied that
Rebb had merely made an excuse, so as to get near the river and
throw himself in. But, guilty or innocent, the Major was sufficiently
brave to face the sins he had committed, and came down again slowly to
the group near the battered sundial. He was still livid, but more
self-controlled.
"I shall deal with Geary later," he said thickly, "in the meanwhile I
can deal with you."
"We are quite ready," said Gerald tranquilly.
"Who are _we?_" questioned Rebb scathingly.
"Myself and my wife."
"She is not your wife. A marriage with a madwoman is not legal."
Mavis shuddered, and clung to Gerald's arm. It was the first time that
she had been called mad to her face. "Oh, guardian," she wailed, "how
can you say that of me when I was so fond of you?"
"You had every reason to be fond of me," said Rebb harshly, and his
eyes gleamed as he thought the girl was weakening. "I gave you a happy
home, in this delightful place, because your brain was not strong
enough to bear the troubles of this world."
Mavis withdrew her hand from Gerald's arm, and looked scornfully at
the liar, whom she now saw in his true colors. "You kept me here that
you might enjoy the money which my father left to me," she declared,
in haughty tones, "you betrayed the trust your dead friend placed in
you. I was a weak girl, and an ignorant one, to believe in your lies:
but now," she added, stepping forward a pace, "now, Major Rebb," and
her use of the name showed the attitude she intended to adopt, "I call
upon you to give me back my money, and leave this place, which belongs
to me."
"No madwoman can possess money," said Mrs. Crosbie shrilly. She saw
the Major's income was about to be lost, and that it would be useless
to marry him. "Michael, call the police and have her removed."
"One moment," said Gerald quietly. "You go too fast, Mrs. Crosbie. But
I am glad to see you at last as you really are. I thought you were my
friend. I now see that you are my enemy. My wife is perfectly sane,
and, as her husband, I shall see that her sanity is proved."
"Call the police--call the police!" cried Mrs. Crosbie furiously; and
she broke from her mother's grip. "How dare you stand there and insult
me, Gerald? I was your friend, and I will be your friend still, if you
will shut up that girl, and apologize."
Tod laughed at the weakness of this speech. "If you cannot find
anything better to say, Mrs. Crosbie, you had better hold your
tongue," he said caustically. "Even if Mrs. Haskins is shut up the
money still belongs to her husband. Major Rebb has lost that for ever.
It is the money you are after, madam."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account