Part 46 (1/2)
”The Miss Pellissier in whose roos at the 'Unusual,'” Courtlaered ”The Miss Pellissier as at White's with us”
The man nodded
”I re Annabel was in hiding all the time”
”Annabel Pellissier is married,” Courtlaw said quietly
”She's my wife,” the man muttered
”It is possible,” Courtlaw said, ”that you too were deceived Where were you lish Embassy in Paris You will find the certificate in ements for you, and sent you there?” Courtlaw asked
”Hainault, Celeste's friend He did everything”
”I thought so,” Courtlaw said ”You too were deceived The place to which you as not the English Embassy, and the whole performance was a fraud I heard rumours of it in Paris, and the place since then has been closed”
”But Hainault--assured--”
”So it would have been at the English Embassy,” Courtlaered, ”but the place to which you as not the English Eed up for the occasion as it has been many a time before”
”But Hainault--was--a pal I--I don't understand,” the man faltered wearily
”Hainault was Celeste's friend, and Celeste was Annabel's enest them all to humiliate her”
”Then she has never been my wife”
”Never for a second She is the wife now of another man”
Hill closed his eyes For fully five ain suddenly, to find Courtlaw still by his side
”It was a bad day forslowly and painfully
”A bad thing for ht I'd see Paris, do the thing--like a toff And I heard 'Alcide' sing, and that little dance she did I was in the front row, and I fancied she sht after night I sat there, I watched her coo She dropped a flower--it's in my pocket-book now I couldn't rest or eat or sleep I made Hainault's acquaintance, stood him drinks, lent him money He shook his head all the time Annabel Pellissier was not like the others, he said She had a few acquaintances, English gentlemen, but she lived with her sister--was a lady But one day he came to me It was Celeste's idea I could be presented as Meysey Hill We were alike He was--a millionaire And I passed myself off as Meysey Hill, and since--then--I haven't had a minute's peace God help me”
Courtlaas alarmed at the man's pallor
”You mustn't talk any more,” he said, ”but I want you to listen to me just for a moment The doctor will be here to see you in five minutes
The nurse sent for him as soon as she saw that you were conscious It is very possible that he will ask you to tell him before witnesses how you received your wound”
The man smiled at him
”You are their friend, then?”
”I am,” Courtlaered