More, he had threatened
to bring an action for divorce against a woman to whom he knew he was
not really married and made it a lever to extort large sums of money
or their value.
What is there that a man in his position can do?
He can do two things--he can revenge himself upon the author of his
ruin, and he be bold enough, he can put an end to his existence and
his sorrows at a blow.
Mr. Quest rose and walked to the door. Halting there, he turned and
looked round the office in that peculiar fashion wherewith the eyes
take their adieu. Then with a sigh he went.
Reaching his own house he hesitated whether or not to enter. Had the
news reached Belle? If so, how was he to face her? Her hands were not
clean, indeed, but at any rate she had no mock marriage in her record,
and her dislike of him had been unconcealed throughout. She had never
wished to marry him, and never for one single day regarded him
otherwise than with aversion.
After reflection he turned and went round by the back way into the
garden. The curtains of the French windows were drawn, but it was a
wet and windy night, and the draught occasionally lifted the edge of
one of them. He crept like a thief up to his own window and looked in.
The drawing-room was lighted, and in a low chair by the fire sat
Belle.
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