Читать книгу Interference - Roland Pertwee - Страница 9
ОглавлениеCHAPTER I
In a single week, Deborah Kane, with great business acumen, extorted three hundred and fifty pounds from Faith to meet the incidental expenses occasioned by the quarter day of March 25th.
Nothing if not thorough, she instructed Faith to send for her perusal and return, a statement of her personal account at the bank.
The figures were disappointing, since most of Faith’s private money was invested in War Savings certificates.
In a brief conversation, held with Faith by telephone on the fourth day, she notified the intention of being reasonable in her demands.
‘I realise, of course, that you can get as much money as I want by asking that alleged husband of yours,’ she said; ‘but as long as you make no trouble and do what you can willingly, it is as well to do nothing to arouse his suspicion. I am not a greedy woman. I enjoy my comforts like anyone else; but you see this isn’t entirely a matter of money. You sent me to hell with an easy conscience ten years ago. Through suffering I have learned some common sense. Perhaps suffering will help you to see things clearer, my dear. Naturally, if you lose your head, I shall have to apply to Marlay.’
‘You won’t dare to tell him,’ Faith gasped. ‘Even you wouldn’t do anything so damnably wicked as that.’
A little hard laugh came back to her along the wire.
‘The wickedness isn’t on my side,’ was the answer. ‘If a man in his position intends to live in open adultery with a woman, he can hardly resent paying for the privilege.’
‘It’s a lie,’ said Faith, ‘and you know it’s a lie. He believes Philip is dead, as I believed, until you told me the truth.’
‘What made you believe he was dead?’
‘His death was reported in a Sydney paper.’
‘I have been turning that over in my mind,’ Deborah replied. ‘The actual wording was, “missing, believed killed.” ’
‘It was never contradicted.’
‘Are you so sure? Did you make inquiries at the right quarter? If you had, you might have found the report was contradicted. A good many mistakes are made in the casualty lists during a big retirement. Of course, as an unconscious bigamist you might get away with it, although it is perfectly obvious that Marlay could not go on keeping you with him after the truth was known. That little episode will have to be closed with decency and despatch. But as a conscious bigamist, a woman who had not taken every precaution to assure herself she was free to marry again—well, my dear, I leave it to your imagination.’
‘Listen,’ said Faith; ‘John would never let me go; never, never. We mean everything to one another.’
‘I see,’ said Deborah, ‘then his practice would have to go—what? One or the other, let’s face it.’
‘You don’t understand John,’ said Faith, and her voice throbbed with emotion. ‘He’s not like other men. You don’t know the danger you are putting yourself in by treating me like this. I tell you, it isn’t I who will suffer if he finds out, but you—you—terribly. I don’t dare to think what he might do.’
There was something very sincere, very real, in the way she spoke these words, and Deborah, who assessed every situation from the emotions of those people who took part in it, paused before replying.
‘Very well, if that’s true, as I am prepared to believe, the more reason for keeping him in the dark. I daresay between us we shall be able to find a satisfactory arrangement. I shan’t press you too hard.’
‘Too hard,’ Faith repeated. ‘You have taken over three hundred pounds already.’
‘That isn’t much to you,’ Deborah retorted. ‘But don’t be afraid, if you behave yourself nicely perhaps I will ease things off a little.’
‘Listen to me,’ said Faith. ‘You shan’t have another penny, not another penny unless you give me back my letters.’
‘Um—yes.’ The voice at the other end of the line sounded dubious. ‘I suppose that’s not unreasonable. The letters are of very secondary importance, although I quite understand how, in the circumstances, you would like them back. I’ll think it over and let you know what I decide. By the way, if a Mrs. Denham rings up your house, you will know who it is.’
‘I forbid you,’ cried Faith. ‘I forbid you.’
But there was no reply. The line had gone dead.
