She
went swiftly, without another glance, and Saltash closed the door behind
her.
CHAPTER II
THE VILLAIN SCORES
"Now, sir!" said Saltash, and turned. His tone was brief; the smile had
gone from his face. He came to Jake with a certain haughtiness, and stood
before him.
Jake squared his shoulders. "So--you've married her!" he said.
"I have." There was a note of challenge in the curt rejoinder. Saltash's
brows were drawn.
"I should like to see--proof of that," Jake said, after a moment.
"The devil you would!" Again the hot gleam shone in the odd eyes. Saltash
stood for a second in the attitude of a man on the verge of violence.
Then, contemptuously, he relaxed.
He lounged back against the mantel-piece and smoked his cigarette. "The
devil you would, Jake!" he said again, in a tone so different that the
words might have been uttered in another language. "And why--if one be
permitted to ask?"
"I think you know why," Jake said.
"Oh, do I? You virtuous people are always the first to suspect evil."
Saltash spoke with deliberate cynicism. "And suppose the marriage is not
genuine--as you so politely hint--what then, my worthy Jake? What then?"
Jake faced him unwaveringly.
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