The Temptress Part 36

"No; very few. It is not our season."

"In that case you would have plenty of facilities for observing them?"

"I saw them perhaps a dozen times each day. I superintended the waiting at _a dejeuner_ and _table d'hote_."

"You have no doubt that the lady was the original of that portrait?"

"Not the slightest," he replied, shrugging his shoulders.

"Have you seen the respondent, Mrs. Willoughby, since?" the judge asked, in slow deliberate tones.

"Yes, I saw her here in London a few weeks ago. I was brought to England by Monsieur Willoughby to identify madame and give evidence."

"When you saw her, did you tell her that you recognised her as Madame Lapasque?"

"Of course I told her. She then grew angry, and ordered me from the room."

"Is that all the evidence you have, Mr. Grover?" asked the judge, when he had concluded taking notes of the witness's cross-examination.

"No, my lord. I have further corroborative evidence," counsel replied.

The Italian walked from the box, and his place was taken by Nanette Rambert.

"What are you, Miss Rambert?" asked Mr. Grover, glancing at his brief.

"Lady's maid."

"You identify these photographs, I believe?"

"Yes; the lady is Madame Lapasque, my late mistress, and the gentleman her husband."

"How long were you in the respondent's service?"

"About two years. At the time she engaged me at Cannes, monsieur was not with her, but about three months later he joined her, and we travelled first to San Remo, then to Rome, Homburg, and London."

"And you always believed Lapasque to be her husband?" asked Mr. Grover.

"Of course, m'sieur. Madame always told me he was."

"How long ago did you leave her service?"

"About six months."

"Have you seen either since?"

"I have only seen madame. I was with M'sieur Willoughby, and we saw her come from a house in Victoria Street, Westminster."

"Did you identify her?"

"Yes, without the slightest difficulty. I did not, however, speak to her."

No other questions were asked the witness, and she left the box.

His lords.h.i.+p then recalled the pet.i.tioner, and questioned him at some length upon his wife's general conduct, to which the gallant captain replied with the sorrowful yet indignant air of the injured husband.

After counsel had delivered a brief and pointed address there was a pause. The judge was weighing the evidence. He read and re-read his notes, underlining words here and there with a pencil, while the Court silently awaited his decision.

Suddenly he looked up, coughed slightly, and, addressing Mr. Grover, who at once rose, said--

"In this case I find that the wife has been guilty of misconduct, and I shall therefore grant a decree _nisi_ with costs against the co-respondent."

Counsel, bowing, thanked his lords.h.i.+p, and, tying up his brief, left the Court, accompanied by the captain, while the onlookers stirred uneasily in their seats, whispered among each other, and then sat eager to be regaled with another story of domestic woe.

As the barrister and his client gained the large hall of the Courts, Nanette joined them. Mr. Grover excused himself on the ground that he had an appointment at his chambers in the Temple, and, bidding them adieu, departed. The captain and the maid followed him down the steps, and, turning in the opposite direction, strolled leisurely past St.

Clement's church and along the Strand.

Willoughby was elated. Not only had he freed himself from a tie that might some day prove detrimental, but--what was much more to the point-- he was also ent.i.tled to claim twenty-five thousand francs, the price his wife had offered for her liberty. The matter had been rendered quite easy, the details, together with Lapasque's address, having been furnished by Valerie herself.

"You're a smart girl, Nanette," he exclaimed flatteringly, after expressing approbation at the manner in which she had given her evidence. "Your story had a ring of truth about it that was delightful, and in answering the questions you drew a long, serious face, and never once faltered."

Nodding her head knowingly and laughing, she replied--

"That's true, m'sieur. But, you see, I know the way to tell fibs as well as most people. I haven't been maid to mademoiselle without contriving to learn a few tricks. I was taught them when I first entered her service; now they come quite naturally."

"So it seems," he said, with an amused smile. "But, tell me, how do matters stand down at the country mansion? Is all serene?"

"Quite. Mademoiselle's new husband is such a mild-mannered young man, and has suspected absolutely nothing from the first. He's madly infatuated with her, and she can twist him round her little finger."

"Now, speaking candidly, Nanette," asked the captain, after a few moments' silence, "have you any idea what object she had in marrying him?"

"None; I'm as ignorant as yourself. It seems unaccountable, yet you may rest a.s.sured she had some very good reason for such a step."

"Of course, Trethowen has money, yet somehow I don't believe that her sole object was to become the wife of a rich man. It is a matter that has puzzled me ever since I heard of the match," observed the captain thoughtfully.

In truth, he was the reverse of sorry that his wife had entered into the alliance. Providing Hugh really loved Valerie, he saw there was a possibility of obtaining hush-money from him, as it was certain he would avoid the scandal which would inevitably result if his wife were prosecuted for bigamy.

Nanette, although unacquainted with many of her mistress's schemes, nevertheless knew so much that it would have been highly undesirable that any disagreement should occur between them. She was saucy and self-confident, yet discreet and--when occasion required--a model maid.

"You should be happy, m'sieur, now that you have obtained your divorce, and can live _en garcon_ again," she remarked, her eyes sparkling with _diablerie_.

"So I am, Nanette," he replied with a smile. "Everything has come off just as I arranged that it should. In the judgment of a fool there are no wise men. To-night you must return to Coombe, and your mistress will pay you the money that was agreed. You might tell her that, the business being so far concluded, she may expect a visit from me in the course of a day or two, when I hope we shall be able to close the incident."

"Very well. I'll give her your message," replied the girl. "But you will not call upon her at Coombe? Surely that would be unwise," she suggested in concern.

"I haven't yet decided whether I shall go there or not. It all depends upon circ.u.mstances," he answered rather abruptly.

Then they turned into a restaurant for luncheon, and the captain celebrated the occasion with a bottle of Pommery, which Nanette a.s.sisted him to drink.