human
Act three. Anna comes to London. She is poor, and she will take nothing from my husband, the man she had deceived for my sake, and he, on his part, gravely disapproves of her as 'Alcide.' She tries every way of earning a living and fails. Then she goes to a dramatic agent. Curiously enough nothing will persuade him that she is not 'Alcide.' He believes that she denies it simply because owing to my marriage with Sir John, whom they call the 'Puritan Knight,' she wants to keep her identity secret. He forces an engagement upon her. She never calls herself 'Alcide.' It is the Press who find her out. She is the image of what I was like, and she has a better voice. Then enter Mr. Hill again--alive. He meets Anna, and claims her as his wife. It is Anna again who stands between me and ruin.
gpt
I cannot let you go on, Ennison interrupted.
human
I believe that I can give you great news. Tell me where the fellow Hill took you for this marriage ceremony.
gpt
It was behind the Place de Vendome, on the other side from the Ritz.
human
I knew it, Ennison exclaimed.
gpt
Cheer up, Annabel. You were never married at all. That place was closed by the police last month. It was a bogus affair altogether, kept by some blackguard or other of an Englishman. Everything was done in the most legal and imposing way, but the whole thing was a fraud.
human
Then I was never married to him at all?
gpt
Never--but, by Jove, you had a narrow escape, Ennison exclaimed.
human
Annabel, I begin to see why you are here. Think! Had you not better hurry back before Sir John discovers? You are his wife right enough. You can tell me the rest another time.
gpt
The rest, she said, holding tightly to his hands,
human
Good God! he exclaimed, looking at her curiously.
gpt
Is this true, Annabel? Is he dead?
human
I shot him. I saw the blood come as he rolled over. I tore the marriage certificate from his pocket and burnt it. And then I came here.
gpt
You came--here!
human
Nigel, Nigel, she cried.
gpt
Don't you understand? It is I whom you cared for in Paris, not Anna. She is a stranger to you. You cannot care for her. Think of those days in Paris. Do you remember when we went right away, Nigel, and forgot everything? We went down the river past Veraz, and the larks were singing all over those deep brown fields, and the river further on wound its way like a coil of silver across the rich meadowland, and along the hillside vineyards. Oh, the scent of the flowers that day, the delicious quiet, the swallows that dived before us in the river. Nigel! You have not forgotten. It was the first day you kissed me, under the willows, coming into Veraz. Nigel, you have not forgotten!
human
No, he said, with a little bitter smile.
gpt
I have never forgotten.
human
Nigel, don't you understand. I must leave England to-night. I must go somewhere into hiding, a long, long way off. I killed him, Nigel. They will say that it was murder. But if only you will come I do not care.
gpt
Listen, Annabel, he said hoarsely.
human
We played at love-making in Paris. It was very pretty and very dainty while it lasted, but we played it with our eyes open, and we perfectly understood the game--both of us. Other things came. We went our ways. There was no broken faith--not even any question of anything of the sort. I met you here as Lady Ferringhall. We have played at a little mild love-making again. It has been only the sort of nonsense which passes lightly enough between half the men and women in London. You shall know the truth. I do not love you. I have never loved you. I call myself a man of the world, a man of many experiences, but I never knew what love meant--until I met your sister.
gpt
You love--Anna?
human
I do, he answered.
gpt
I always shall. Now if you are ready to go with me, I too am ready. We will go to Ostend by the early morning boat and choose a hiding place from there. I will marry you when Sir John gets his divorce, and I will do all I can to keep you out of harm. But you had better know the truth to start with. I will do all this not because I love you, but--because you are Anna's sister.
human
You are magnificent, she said,
gpt
she continued, opening the door before he could reach her side.
human
I had no idea that it was so abominably late.
gpt
Where to?
human
Home, of course, she answered.
gpt
Eight, Cavendish Square.
human
You!
gpt
You cannot say that you did not expect me, he answered.
human
I got Sydney's telegram at ten o'clock, and caught the ten-thirty from the Gare du Nord.
gpt
It is very nice of you,
human
Rubbish! he answered.
gpt
I could not have stayed in Paris and waited for news. Tell me exactly what has happened. Even now I do not understand. Is this man Hill dead?
human
He was alive at four o'clock this afternoon, she answered,
gpt
What is there to be feared?
human
You are my friend, she said,
gpt
But that is ridiculous!
human
I am under police surveillance, she said.
gpt
So is Mr. Brendon.
human
But there is not a shadow of evidence against you, he objected.
gpt
The man alone could supply any, and if he recovers sufficiently to say anything, what he would say would exonerate you.
human
Yes.