Anna the Adventuress

"I want two words--with Miss Pellissier alone," Hill pleaded.

The doctor frowned.

"Remember," he said, "you are not by any means a dying man now, but

you'll never pull through if you don't husband your strength."

"Two words only," Hill repeated.

They all left the room. Anna leaned over so that he needed only to

whisper.

"Tell your sister she was right to shoot, quite right. I meant

mischief. But tell her this, too. I believed that our marriage was

genuine. I believed that she was my wife, or she would have been safe

from me."

"I will tell her," Anna promised.

"She has nothing to be afraid of," he continued. "I have signed a

statement that I shot myself; bad trade and drink, both true--both

true."

His eyes were closed. Anna left the room on tiptoe. She and Courtlaw

drove homewards together.