It was done. She awoke to find herself a married woman. Lady Bellamystepped forward with the same half-triumphant smile with which she hadgreeted Angela hovering about her lips.
"Let me congratulate you, _Mrs._ Caresfoot," she said; "indeed, Ithink I am privileged to do so, for, if I remember right, I was thefirst to prophesy this happy event;" and then, dropping her voice sothat Angela alone could hear her, "Do you not remember that I told youthat you would as certainly come to the altar rails within nine monthswith George Caresfoot as you would to your death-bed? I said that ninemonths ago to-day."
Angela started as though she had been stung.
"Events have been too strong for me," she murmured; "but all this isnothing but a form, a form that can now be forgotten."
Again Lady Bellamy smiled as she answered,
"Oh, of course, Mrs. Caresfoot, nothing but a form."
Angela's eye fell upon the ring on her finger. She tore it off.
"Take this back," she said, "I have done with it."
"A married woman must wear a ring, Mrs. Caresfoot."
She hurled it upon the floor.
Just then George and Philip returned from a little back-room wherethey had been with the registrar, who still remained behind, to signthe certificate. George advanced upon his wife with a dreadful smileon his features, removing the respirator as he came. His object was tokiss her, but she divined it and caught her father by the arm.
"Father," she said, "protect me from this man."
"Protect you, Angela; why, he is your husband!"
"My husband! Have you all agreed to drive me mad?"
Lady Bellamy saw that if something were not done quickly, there wouldbe a shocking scene, which was the last thing she wanted, so sheseized George and whispered in his ear, after which he followed hersulkily, turning round from time to time to look at Angela.
On her way from Roxham, Lady Bellamy stopped her carriage at thetelegraph office and went in and wrote a telegram.
"I respect that woman, and she shall have her chance," she said, asshe re-read it previous to handing it to the clerk.
Three hours later Mildred Carr received the following message atMadeira:
"From A. B. to Mrs. Carr, Quinta Carr, Madeira:
"Angela C. married her cousin G. C. this morning."
That night Lady Bellamy dined at Isleworth with George Caresfoot. Thedinner passed over in almost complete silence; George was evidentlyplunged in thought, and could not eat, though he drank a good deal.Lady Bellamy ate and thought too. After the servants had gone, shebegan to speak.
"I want my price, George," she said.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean what I say. You are now Angela Caresfoot's husband; give meback those letters as you promised, I am impatient to break mychains." He hesitated. "George," she said, in a warning voice, "do notdare to play with me; I warn you that your power over me is not whatit used to be. Give me back those letters. I have done your wickedwork for you and will have my pay."
"All right, Anne, and so you shall; when will you have them?"
"Now, this instant."
"But I have not got my keys."
"You forget your keys are on your watch-chain."
"Ah, to be sure, so they are. You won't turn round on me when you getthem, will you, Anne?"
"Why should I turn on you? I wish to get the letters, and, if I can,to have done with you."
He went with a somewhat hesitating step to the iron safe in the cornerof the room and opened it. The he opened the subdivision and rummagedabout there for a while. At last he looked up.
"It is very curious, Anne," he said, in a half-frightened voice, "butI can't find them."
"George, give me those letters."
"I can't find them, Anne, I can't find them. If you don't believe me,come and look for yourself. Somebody must have taken them."
She advanced and did as he said. It was evident that the letters werenot there.
"Once before when you were ill you hid them. Where have you hiddenthem now?"
"I haven't hidden them, Anne; I haven't, indeed."
She turned slowly and looked him full in the eyes. Her own face wasashy pale with fury, but she said never a word. Her silence was moreterrible than words. Then she raised her hands and covered her eyesfor a while. Presently she dropped them, and said, in a singularlysoft voice,
"It is over now."
"What do you mean?" he asked, fearfully, for she terrified him.
"I mean a great deal, George Caresfoot. I mean that something hassnapped the bond which bound me to you. I mean that I no longer fearyou, that I have done with you. Use your letters, if you will, you canharm me no more; I have passed out of the region of your influence,out of the reach of your revenge. I look on you now and wonder whatthe link was between us, for there was a mysterious link. That Icannot tell. But this I can tell you. I have let go your hand, and youare going to fall down a great precipice, George, a precipice of whichI cannot see the foot. Yes, it is right that you should cower beforeme now; I have cowered before you for more than twenty years. You mademe what I am. I am going into the next room now till my carriagecomes, I did not order it till half-past ten. Do not follow me. Butbefore I go I will tell you something, and you know I do not makemistakes. You will never sleep under this roof again, GeorgeCaresfoot, and we shall not meet again alive. You have had a long day,but your hour has struck."
"Who told you that, woman?" he asked, furiously.
"Last night I read it in the stars, to-night I read it in your face."
And again she looked at him, long and steadily, as he crouched in thechair before her, and then slowly left the room.
After awhile he roused himself, and began to drink wine furiously.
"Curse her," he said, as the fumes mounted into his brain, "curse her,she is trying to frighten me with her infernal magic, but she sha'n't.I know what she is at; but I will be beforehand with her." And,staggering under the mingled influence of drink and excitement, herose and left the house.
Lady Bellamy sat in the drawing-room, and waited for her carriage; atlast she heard the wheels upon the gravel. Then she rose, and rapidlydid something to the great lamp upon the paper-strewn table. As sheshut the door she turned.
"That will do," she said.
In the hall she met the servant coming to announce the carriage.
"Is your master still in the dining-room?" she asked.
"No, my lady."
She laughed a little, and civilly bade the man good-night.
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