and bars of the chimney…throat like tattered banners in ancient
aisles； whilst through the square opening in the midst one or two
bright stars looked down upon them from the grey March sky。 The
sight seemed to cheer him。
'At any rate you will love me？' he murmured to her。
'Yesalwaysfor ever and for ever！'
He kissed her once； twice； three times； and arose to his feet；
slowly withdrawing himself from her side towards the door。 Cytherea
remained with her gaze fixed on the fire。 Edward went out grieving；
but hope was not extinguished even now。
He smelt the fragrance of a cigar； and immediately afterwards saw a
small red star of fire against the darkness of the hedge。 Graye was
pacing up and down the lane； smoking as he walked。 Springrove told
him the result of the interview。
'You are a good fellow； Edward；' he said； 'but I think my sister is
right。'
'I wish you would believe Manston a villain； as I do；' said
Springrove。
'It would be absurd of me to say that I like him nowfamily feeling
prevents it； but I cannot in honesty say deliberately that he is a
bad man。'
Edward could keep the secret of Manston's coercion of Miss Aldclyffe
in the matter of the houses a secret no longer。 He told Owen the
whole story。
'That's one thing；' he continued； 'but not all。 What do you think
of thisI have discovered that he went to Budmouth post…office for
a letter the day before the first advertisement for his wife
appeared in the papers。 One was there for him； and it was directed
in his wife's handwriting； as I can prove。 This was not till after
the marriage with Cytherea； it is true； but if （as it seems to show）
the advertising was a farce； there is a strong presumption that the
rest of the piece was。'
Owen was too astounded to speak。 He dropped his cigar； and fixed
his eyes upon his companion。
'Collusion！'
'Yes。'
'With his first wife？'
'Yeswith his wife。 I am firmly persuaded of it。'
'What did you discover？'
'That he fetched from the post…office at Budmouth a letter from her
the day BEFORE the first advertisement appeared。'
Graye was lost in a long consideration。 'Ah！' he said； 'it would be
difficult to prove anything of that sort now。 The writing could not
be sworn to； and if he is guilty the letter is destroyed。'
'I have other suspicions'
'Yesas you said' interrupted Owen； who had not till now been able
to form the complicated set of ideas necessary for picturing the
position。 'Yes； there is this to be rememberedCytherea had been
taken from him before that letter cameand his knowledge of his
wife's existence could not have originated till after the wedding。
I could have sworn he believed her dead then。 His manner was
unmistakable。'
'Well； I have other suspicions；' repeated Edward； 'and if I only had
the rightif I were her husband or brother； he should be convicted
of bigamy yet。'
'The reproof was not needed；' said Owen； with a little bitterness。
'What can I doa man with neither money nor friendswhilst Manston
has Miss Aldclyffe and all her fortune to back him up？ God only
knows what lies between the mistress and her steward； but since this
has transpiredif it is trueI can believe the connection to be
even an unworthy onea thing I certainly never so much as owned to
myself before。'
3。 THE FIFTH OF MARCH
Edward's disclosure had the effect of directing Owen Graye's
thoughts into an entirely new and uncommon channel。
On the Monday after Springrove's visit； Owen had walked to the top
of a hill in the neighbourhood of Tolchurcha wild hill that had no
name； beside a barren down where it never looked like summer。 In
the intensity of his meditations on the ever…present subject； he sat
down on a weather…beaten boundary…stone gazing towards the distant
valleysseeing only Manston's imagined form。
Had his defenceless sister been trifled with？ that was the question
which affected him。 Her refusal of Edward as a husband was； he
knew； dictated solely by a humiliated sense of inadequacy to him in
repute； and had not been formed till since the slanderous tale
accounting for her seclusion had been circulated。 Was it not true；
as Edward had hinted； that he； her brother； was neglecting his duty
towards her in allowing Manston to thrive unquestioned； whilst she
was hiding her head for no fault at all？
Was it possible that Manston was sensuous villain enough to have
contemplated； at any moment before the marriage with Cytherea； the
return of his first wife； when he should have grown weary of his new
toy？ Had he believed that； by a skilful manipulation of such
circumstances as chance would throw in his way； he could escape all
suspicion of having known that she lived？ Only one fact within his
own direct knowledge afforded the least ground for such a
supposition。 It was that； possessed by a woman only in the humble
and unprotected station of a lady's hired companion； his sister's
beauty might scarcely have been sufficient to induce a selfish man
like Manston to make her his wife； unless he had foreseen the
possibility of getting rid of her again。
'But for that stratagem of Manston's in relation to the
Springroves；' Owen thought； 'Cythie might now have been the happy
wife of Edward。 True； that he influenced Miss Aldclyffe only rests
on Edward's suspicions； but the grounds are goodthe probability is
strong。'
He went indoors and questioned Cytherea。
'On the night of the fire； who first said that Mrs。 Manston was
burnt？' he asked。
'I don't know who started the report。'
'Was it Manston？'
'It was certainly not he。 All doubt on the subject was removed
before he came to the spotthat I am certain of。 Everybody knew
that she did not escape AFTER the house was on fire； and thus all
overlooked the fact that she might have left beforeof course that
would have seemed such an improbable thing for anybody to do。'
'Yes； until the porter's story of her irritation and doubt as to her
course made it natural。'
'What settled the matter at the inquest；' said Cytherea； 'was Mr。
Manston's evidence that the watch was his wife's。'
'He was sure of that； wasn't he？'
'I believe he said he was certain of it。'
'It might have been hersleft behind in her perturbation； as they
say it wasimpossible as that seems at first sight。 Yeson the
whole； he might have believed in her death。'
'I know by several proofs that then； and at least for some time
after； he had no other thought than that she was dead。 I now think
that before the porter's confession he knew something about her
though not that she lived。'
'Why do you？'
'From what he said to me on the evening of the wedding…day； when I
had fastened myself in the room at the hotel； after Edward's visit。
He must have suspected that I knew something； for he was irritated；
and in a passion of uneasy doubt。 He said； 〃You don't suppose my
first wife is come to light again； madam； surely？〃 Directly he had
let the remark slip out； he seemed anxious to withdraw it。'
'That's odd；' said Owen。
'I thought it very odd。'
'Still we must remember he might only have hit upon the thought by
accident； in doubt as to your motive。 Yes； the great point to
discover remains the same as everdid he doubt his first impression
of her death BEFORE he married you。 I can't help thinking he did；
although he was so astounded at our news that night。 Edward swears
he did。'
'It was perhaps only a short time before；' said Cytherea； 'when he
could hardly recede from having me。
'Seasoning justice with mercy as usual； Cytherea。 'Tis unfair to
yourself to talk like that。 If I could only bring him to ruin as a
bigamistsupposing him to be oneI should die happy。 That's what
we must find out by fair means or foulwas he a wilful bigamist？'
'It is no use trying； Owen。 You would have to employ a solicitor；
and how can you do that？'
'I can't at allI know that very well。 But neither do I altogether
wish to at presenta lawyer must have a casefacts to go upon；
that means。 Now they are scarce at presentas scarce as money is
with us； and till we have found more money there is no hurry for a
lawyer。 Perhaps by the time we have the facts we shall have the
money。 The only thing we lose in working alone in this way； is
timenot the issue： for the fruit that one mind matures in a
twelvemonth forms a more perfectly organized whole than that of
twelve minds in one month； especially if the interests of the single
one are vitally concerned； and those of the twelve are only hired。
But there is not only my mind availableyou are a shrewd woman；
Cythie； and Edward is an earnest ally。 Then； if we really get a
sure footing for a criminal prosecution； the Crown will take up the
case。'
'I don't much care to press on in the matter；' she murmured。 'What
good can it do us； Owen； after all？'
'Selfishly speaking； it will do this goodthat all the facts of
your journey to Southampton will become known； and the scandal will
die。 Besides； Manston will have to sufferit's an act of justice
to you and to other women； and to Edward Springrove。'
He now thought it necessary to tell her of the real nature of the
Springroves' obligation to Miss Aldclyffeand their nearly certain
knowledge that Manston was the prime mover in effecting their
embarrassment。 Her face flushed as she listened。
'And now；' he said； 'our first undertaking is to find out where Mrs。
Manston lived during the separation； next； when the first
communications passed between them after the fire。'
'If we only had Miss Aldclyffe's countenance and assistance as I
used to have them；' Cytherea returned； 'how strong we should be！ O；
what power is it that he exercises over her； swaying her just as he
wishes！ She loves me now。 Mrs。 Morris in her letter said that Miss
Aldclyffe prayed for meyes； she heard her praying for me； and
crying。 Miss Aldclyffe did not mind an old friend like Mrs。 Morris
knowing it； either。 Yet in opposition to this； notice her dead
silence and inaction throughout this proceeding。'
'It is a mystery； but never mind that now；' said Owen impressively。
'About where Mrs。 Manston has been living。 We must get this part of
it firstlearn the place of her stay in t