human
Dearest, he said softly.
gpt
Oh, my poor girl.
human
Oh! --she stretched out an arm as he advanced slowly--
gpt
Bella! He stopped in sheer surprise.
human
Bella, darling, don't you know me?
gpt
Ah, yes, I know you, she gasped, retreating towards the chair.
human
Perhaps I know you too well.
gpt
Because I have not been to see you before? he asked, surprised.
human
Bella, dearest, I would have come but that I have been abroad during the week. I had to go to Paris to see a--a friend of mine.
gpt
When did you go?
human
On the afternoon when your father found us in the corn-field.
gpt
It's not true; it's not true. How can you lie to me?
human
Bella! Cyril stopped short again, and in the faint light she could see that he looked thoroughly puzzled and amazed.
gpt
What do you mean?
human
My father is being buried,
gpt
I know, I know, he replied sympathetically.
human
I went to the funeral, but finding you were not present, I came here to comfort you.
gpt
You--you--you went to the funeral?
human
Why should I not go. After all, even though we quarrelled, he was your father, and a last tribute of respect----
gpt
Oh, stop, stop. You can say this to me--to me, of all people?
human
This lonely house and this cold, dull room have unnerved you, he said after a pause.
gpt
I make every allowance for what you have gone through, but----
human
But you know, you understand.
gpt
Know what? understand what?
human
I said nothing at the inquest. I held my tongue. I never----
gpt
Bella! Cyril, now thoroughly roused, advanced and seized her wrists in no gentle grasp,
human
I have had enough to make me crazy, she said bitterly,
gpt
Not till you explain your mysterious behaviour. No --he grasped her wrists tighter as she strove to release herself--
human
Ah! she cried out shrilly,
gpt
Murder you also? he repeated.
human
Am I then in the habit of murdering people?
gpt
My father. You--you----
human
Well, go on,
gpt
Oh --she wrung her hands helplessly--
human
I saw you; I saw you.
gpt
Saw me what?
human
I saw you enter the house--this house.
gpt
Saw me--enter this house? When?
human
On the night my father was murdered--at eight o'clock.
gpt
What the devil are you talking about? cried Cyril roughly.
human
I was in London at eight o'clock on that night, and went to Paris the next morning. I never heard of the murder, as I saw no newspapers. When I returned last night I read the account of the inquest in the evening papers, and I came down this morning to comfort you. I really think trouble has turned your head, Bella.
gpt
You can prove your innocence?
human
My innocence of what, in heaven's name?
gpt
Of--of--the--the--murder,
human
You are not serious?
gpt
Oh, my dear: she sobbed,
human
I wish I were not.
gpt
And you accuse me of murdering your father?
human
No, no! Really, I don't accuse you of actually--that is, of really--but I saw you enter this house at eight o'clock, or a little after, on that night. I intended to come down, thinking you and my father might quarrel, but I drank the tea--you must have seen about the tea at the inquest--that is, in the report given in the papers. Then I fell asleep, and woke to hear that my father was dead. But I never betrayed you, Cyril. God is my witness that I have held my tongue.
gpt
You accuse me of murdering your father?
human
No, no; she repeated feverishly,
gpt
Bella! Bella! You must have been dreaming, or the drug----
human
I was not dreaming, she interrupted vehemently,
gpt
--she flung herself down at his feet and seized his hand.
human
What took place between my father and you? I'm sure you did not kill him. I am quite sure of that, and, remember, I held my tongue. Yes, I held----
gpt
Oh, groaned the young man, looking down into her agitated face.
human
I am losing my reason. You will shortly persuade me that I killed----
gpt
But you did not--you did not. Ah, never say that you did.
human
No, said Lister shortly, and rose so suddenly as to let her fall,
gpt
I don't! I don't! she wailed, stretching out her hands, as he strode towards the door.
human
Oh, Cyril, don't leave me. You are all I have.
gpt
Darling, he said, softly and firmly,
human
I swear to you, what I would not swear to any living creature, that I am innocent. If anyone but you had accused me, I should have----
gpt
Cyril! Cyril! She wreathed her arms round his neck,
human
I only fancied, but I really did not think that----
gpt
You should believe in my innocence in the face of all evidence,
human
But my own eyes,
gpt
That certainly is puzzling; still, the drug----
human
I saw you enter the house before I drunk the tea, she protested.
gpt
I told you that before.
human
Your senses were quite clear?
gpt
Perfectly clear. And I thought that you had come to try and induce my father to consent to our marriage.
human
Strange, muttered the young man.
gpt
I was not near the house.
human
Are you sure? are you sure?
gpt
Oh! Lister's tone was highly exasperated.
human
You will drive me mad, talking in this way. Hearken, he added, speaking calmer,
gpt
Yes. Yes, for me, but----
human
But I might have sneaked back, I suppose you mean? he said bitterly, and rising to walk the floor.
gpt
I can prove an _alibi_ easily. At eight o'clock I was at my friend's rooms in Duke Street, St. James's, as his man can swear. He had gone to Paris, and I arranged to follow. I went to the theatre, and to dinner with two friends of mine, and did not leave them until one in the morning, when I returned to my hotel. The murder took place at eleven, or between eight and eleven, so I can easily prove that I was not here. Next morning I went to Paris, and got the money from my friend. I lingered there with him, and only returned yesterday, to learn that your father was dead. Then I came down here this morning to--meet with this reception.
human
Cyril! Cyril! Don't be hard on me.
gpt
Are you not hard yourself? he retorted.
human
How can I love a woman who doubts me? Besides, robbery was the motive for the commission of the crime. Am I likely to stab an old man, and then rob him?
gpt
No, I never believed, and yet----
human
And yet what?
gpt
You--you--wanted a thousand pounds.
human
Oh --his lip curled--
gpt
I never said that you murdered my father,
human
You inferred as much, he retorted cuttingly;
gpt
No, no, no! she cried vehemently, now thoroughly believing him to be completely innocent, and trying woman-like to recover her position.
human
But, Cyril, listen to me, and you will see that as things look I was justified----
gpt
Nothing can justify your believing me to be guilty of a double crime.
human
I can see that now,
gpt
You should have seen it before,
human
You give me no opportunity of defending myself,
gpt
I ask your pardon, and give you the opportunity now,
human
I saw you enter the house,
gpt
That is impossible,
human
Oh! She clasped her hands together.
gpt
What is the use of saying that? It was not you, since I firmly believe what you tell me; all the same----
human
You believe me, then?
gpt
Yes, I do. But if the man was not you, he must have been your double.
human
Was he so like me, then?
gpt
Exactly like you. Don't I tell you, Cyril, that I leaned out of the window and spoke to the man. I called him by your name.
human
What did he do?
gpt
He looked up, but making no sign of recognition stepped into the house, as the door was not locked. I never believed for one moment that it was not you, and resolved to clamber out of the window to be present at the interview. Then I drank the drugged tea, and---- she made a gesture of despair--
human
How was the man dressed?
gpt
In a grey suit, just as you wore in the afternoon.
human
You saw the face?
gpt
I saw it very plainly, although the twilight was growing darker at the time. But I could have sworn it was your face. Would I have spoken to the man had I not believed him to be you?
human
No, and yet --Cyril stopped, and tugged at his moustache. His face had grown pale, and he looked decidedly worried.
gpt
The man was of my height?
human
He was like you in every respect. Perhaps if I had seen him in broad daylight I might have recognised my mistake unless--oh, Cyril, could it have been your ghost?
gpt
No, said Lister, in a strangled voice,
human
he made for the door.
gpt
There's nothing more to say.
human
Cyril, will you leave me? Won't you kiss----
gpt
There's nothing more to say,