The Red Bicycle

startled, and frequently boasted that nothing could astonish him. But on this occasion he w

oughly. "How could Wyke have a wife when h

to an actress. They did not get on well together, and parted by mutual consent. Lady Wyke, under her stage name of Miss Maisie Chain, went to America, and, after a long silence,

e," repeated the

Sandal, calmly. "I was surprised myself when La

have seen

Chain I tried to persuade him not to, but he was wilful, and persisted in doing so. As I foretold, the match turned out to be an unhappy one. W

his elbows on his knees, and stared at the ca

I wish myself that Sir Hector could have married your dau

to Claudia when he was

tor asked your daughter to be his wife he was a

didn't he

very naturally wished to forget the mista

aughter of her rights!"

the newspaper in which is the report of the fire at the Chicago theatre and the death of Maisie Chain, who was really Lady Wyke. Sir Hector left th

that this woman

present at the marriage, and there is a certificate of that in the deed box also. I knew

sked Lemby, sullenly, for he felt tha

d, and remained quiet. Owing to the shock she did not resume her stage career, so that is why neither Sir Hector nor myself saw her name again. Ha

attempt to contain his wrath. "Oh, yes, very h

ve her anything," expost

engaged to him, and he

as sent to her that Sir Hector contemplated a second marriage. She came over to England at

oamed Lemby, clenching his hands

friend was in love with Miss Lemby. Only when Lady Wyke came here after his burial did I learn tha

uld have made over a good income to my daughter,

gest. And I don't think that your daughter is disappointed, seeing that she never car

's a

alling himself Edwin Craver, and that it was you who were compelling her to marry him. I pointed out to my friend that as he had made one mistake it

my girl," said th

ictly honourable, and he would have fulfille

od, Wyke; should have

not even me. I knew nothing until Lady Wyke w

room. "It's all a lie! I don't

anced at his watch. "But Lady Wyke will be here in a few minutes, as I have to see her

to have it out with this undesirable woman, who had risen from the dead

Hector left all his property to his wife. That will

en he married Claudia he intended to make

ld have done so when he was married. But as the marr

e made the will

ce. Until your daughter was Lady Wyke no disposition of the property on the lines of marriage, save in settlements, could have been made. Those settlements we

it be

ber, Mr. Lemby, that in justice the widow of Sir Hector shoul

of securing again what he had lost unless Lady Wyke was disposed to be gracious, and recompensed Claudia for her presumed disappointment. He therefore determined to wait and see if Lady Wyk

a high, shrill voice, hard and rather ras

umpish, ungracious fashion and glared at the fashionable little woman as though he could have slain her with a loo

wait?" asked Lady Wyke, and raised a lorgnett

lain himself why he

was a smallish woman, by no means in her first youth, with a slender figure and a very perfect pink-and-white complexion, which was probably due to art. Her features were cleanly cut, h

nal tones of her shrill voice that she was a cat. So he called her in his own mind, and decided that only personal violence could reduce her to reason, and to get the money by personal viole

harply, for she objected to his inso

a's rights," growled Le

ia?" She stared impertinen

have married Sir Hector

"I saw the announcement of the proposed marriage in a society paper which I picked up in New York, and it was that which brought me

in Sandal, "you

ke, contemptuously.

l things by their proper n

on't you think he is ver

ng about it," snarled

ou look as though you acted rather than thou

dashed we

e was always a gentleman, and would not have care

o, and is much handsomer and you

hat is your Mr. Lemby, as I should like to call,

audia," growled Lemby, who was exasper

to see me, why ar

Wyke intended to marry her, and settl

rejoined the widow sarcastically. "I understand what you mean. If y

. "There's not much

owever, I leave the matter to your own discretion. Give me your ad

ied the required information, wh

replaced the tablets in her pocket. "I shall call t

at like a schoolboy. He felt abashed in th

ood-afternoon, Mr. Lemby," And without a word, Lemby shamble

ype="