Page:The Death-Doctor.djvu/238

226 moment of indiscretion during my husband's illness I unfortunately told him that he would not get better—that you and I were in accord, and that I had bought the bottle of serum."

"My God, woman!" I cried, starting to my feet. "Are you a howling imbecile?"

"You are right!" she gasped. "I was. I've paid for it—paid for it dearly ever since. He's had three thousand pounds from me already."

"You're an infernal fool, Mrs. Auberon," I declared openly. "And you deserve what you've got."

"I know! I know!" she cried in sheer despair. "But your peril is equal with mine. I've paid in order to save you, as well as to save myself. He threatens to put the whole matter before Edward. If he does, then we are lost. What can I do?"

"Do? Why, pay him a lump sum and get rid of him."

"And if I do so he will then commence to blackmail you."

"What does he really know?" I asked calmly.

"Everything. I was a fool, and believing we were to be man and wife, told him everything."