The Magician

announced Margaret's marriage. It was a petit bleu

is morning. I love him as I never loved Arthur. I have acted in this manner because I

RG

t be Arthur, for he was expected at midday. She decided quickly that it was impossible to break the news to him then and there.

ere,' she said. 'A friend of hers

Arthur. 'Mrs Bloomfiel

now she's

arly every afternoon w

eld's illness, and it was news that Margaret was in the habit of visi

back at five o'c

shouldn't we lunch

but I'm expecti

Then I'll come

ed that a number of letters had been destroyed. She opened a drawer and found that Margaret's trinkets were gone. An idea struck her. Margaret had bought lately a number of clothes, and these she had insisted should be sent to her dressmaker, saying that it was needless to cumber their li

the old woman. 'I heard her tell the co

discovered that by Margaret's order the boxes containing her things h

till your bill was paid,' said

ssmaker

for everything two

age with Arthur; but, since she was herself penniless, had paid for it with the money which he had genero

edingly busy, and I knew that

aret for three week

hought she droppe

her, she went to the Consulate, and her last doubt was dissipated. Then nothing remained but to go home and wait for Arthur. Her first impulse had been to see Dr Porho?t and ask for his advice; but, even if he offered to come back with her to the studio, his presence would

would make him punctual. She had eaten nothing since the petit déjeuner of the morning, and she was faint with

here yet?' he ask

you sit

voice was strange, nor that

' he cried. 'You h

ng to say to you. It will

to Margaret. She was ill. His terror was so great that he could not speak. He put out his hands as does a blind man. Susie had to make an effort t

does i

old him all that she had done that da

s Bloomfield, she was with that man. She made all the arra

ed in perfect silence. And it was so terrible that Susie began to cry quietly. She knew that the man she loved was suffering

to you, she's been odiously deceitful. She must be vi

sharply, and his

to say anythin

d never spoken to her before in

m, I've seen her cut him in the street. She's gone on with all the preparations for your marriage. She must have lived in a world of lies, and you never suspected anything because you had an unalterable belief in her love and

she didn't love me,'

retended to love you. Oh, she's behaved s

ie with haggard,

uel? For God's sake d

pain overcame the last barrier of his self-control, he broke down. He hi

uch hateful things. I didn't mean to be unkind. I oug

ested in her only because she was Margaret's friend. At last he got up and, taking his pipe from his pocket, filled it silently. She was terrified at the look on his face. The first time she had ever seen him, Susie wonder

true,' he muttered.

the door, and Arthu

she's c

ace suddenly lit up by expect

id the Frenchman. '

ht the dismay that was o

si

et? I thought you mus

in his manner that

egram from Mr Had

anded it to Susie. She read it a

tudio at five

er H

s morning,' said Arthur, quietly. 'I

few facts they knew. He was as s

explanation of

ged his shou

gh that she should go away in this fashion rather than offer explanations. I s

you see

sterday even

in any way that she co

shook h

d no qu

ever seen her more gay. She talked the whole time of our house

ore. The fire of her kisses still burnt upon his lips. He had spent a night of almost sleepless ecstasy because he had been cert

sure she

on Haddo's cruel telegram. She s

repulsion like that which people sometimes have for certain animals. What can have happene

remarkable things in his day, and he's no fool. It's possible that some people wouldn't mind the eccentricities whi

t Haddo had qualities which might explain her infatuation. But as his enemy stood before his fancy, monstrously obese, vulgar, and overbe

rue. Perhaps she'll

back if she came t

ess? There must be reasons of which we know nothing that caused her t

up and walked a

e some horrible vengeance, I think I could devise nothing m

thur. 'If I could only suppose she wo

hat Haddo had sent that

an it m

d to Arth

. And when he tried to excuse himself, there was a cruel gleam in his eyes which terrified me. I warned you; I told you that he had made up his mind to revenge himself, but you laughed at me. And then he seemed to go out of our lives and I thought no more about it. I won

s possible to carry out such

k away from you all your happiness. He must have known that you wanted nothing in the world more than to make Margaret your wife, and he has not only prevented that, but he has marrie

o me, if she's gone to him so callously, it's because it's not the

eech. I wonder if it ca

o?t looked at Susi

for years, and she was incapable of deceit. She was very kind-hearted. She was honest and truthful. In the first moment of horror, I was only indignan

lenched

d her, not because he cares, but in order to hurt me, what life will she lea

o can have cast some spell upon her that would make her unable to resist his will? Is it pos

ve read of them, but I have no proof. In these matters all is obscurity. The adepts in magic m

d Susie. 'Perhaps there was enough truth in his extravagant pret

is hands wearil

y. At this moment everything seems possible. My faith

hair in which Margaret had so often sat. An unfinished canvas s

has married this man. It is plain that many people will think she has done much better in marrying a country gentleman than in marrying a young surgeon. Her letter is perfectly lucid. There is no trace of c

viously true, and n

o grin and bear it,'

you going?'

Here everything will remind me of what I

less woe of his face, which he could not prevent from being v

e that you'll f

and I daresay will write to you. I should like you to tell her that I bear her no ill-will for anything she has done, and I will never venture to repro

ill see that she is told,

ow goo

till tomorrow. Shan't I

on't come here again. The sight

Susie saw that he was using a superhuman effort to prese

she said. 'I should be sorry

d kind you are, and I shall never forget that you are Margaret's f

ind his back, began to walk up and dow

t puzzles me,' he said.

ed, he would have taken her back. The other man knew that he could only

Susie was alone she began to weep broken-heartedly, not for herse