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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