he
exclamation which had risen to Mr. Ransom's lips died in a conflict
of feeling which forbade any rejoinder that savored of sarcasm. Hazen,
however, must have noted his first look, for he added with an air of
haughty apology:

"I repeat that we were once very fond of each other."

Ransom felt his perplexities growing with every moment he talked with
this man. He remembered the money which both he and Gerridge had seen in
her bag,--an amount too large for her to have retained very much on her
person,--and following the instinct of the moment, he remarked:

"Mrs. Ransom is not the woman to hesitate when a person she loves makes
an appeal for money. She handed you immediately a large sum, I have no
doubt."

"She wrote me out a check," was the simple but cold answer.

Mr. Ransom felt the failure of his attempt and stole a glance at
Gerridge.

The doubtful smile he received was not very encouraging. The same thought
had evidently struck both. The money in the bag was a blind--she had
carried her check-book with her and so could draw on her account for
whatever she wished. But under what name? Her maiden one or his? Ransom
determined to find out.

"I do not begrudge you the money," said he, "but Mrs. Ransom's signature
had changed a few hours previous to her making out this check. Did she
remember this?"

"She signed her married name promising to notify the bank at once."

"And you cashed the check?"

"No, sir; I am not in such immediate need of money as that. I have it
still, but I shall endeavor to cash it to-morrow. Some question may come
up as to her sanity, and I do not choose to lose the only money she has
ever been in a position to give me."

"Mr. Hazen, you harp on the irresponsible condition of her mind. Did you
see any tokens of this in the interview you had together?"

"No; she seemed sane enough then; a little shocked and troubled, but
quite sane."

"You knew that she had stolen away from me--that she had resorted to a
most unworthy subterfuge in order to hold this conversation with you?"

"No; I had asked her to come, and on that very afternoon if possible, but
I never knew what means she took for doing so; I didn't ask and she
didn't say."

"But she talked of her marriage? She must have said something about an
event which is usually considered the greatest in a woman's life."

"Yes, she spoke of it."

"And of me?"

"Yes, she spoke of you."

"And in what terms? I cannot refrain from as