Blind Love

Slowly the weeks passed. Strictly Mrs. Vimpany kept her promise.

When she heard from Iris the letter was always sent to Hugh, to be

returned after he had read it. Events in the lives of the newly-married

pair, many of which pointed to the end that Mrs. Vimpany saw and

dreaded, were lightly, sometimes jestingly, related by the young wife.

Her blind belief in her husband, sincerely asserted in the earlier part

of the correspondence, began to betray, in her later letters, signs of

self delusion. It was sad indeed to see that bright intelligence

rendered incapable of conceiving suspicions, which might have occurred

to the mind of a child.

When the latest news from Paris followed, in due course, Mountjoy was

informed of it by a note from Mrs. Vimpany expressed in these terms: "My last letter from Iris is really no letter at all. It simply

encloses a circular, with her love, and asks me to send it on to you.

If it is in your power to make inquiries in the right quarter, I am

sure you will not hesitate to take the trouble. There can be little

doubt, as I think, that Lord Harry is engaged in a hazardous

speculation, more deeply than his wife is willing to acknowledge."

The circular announced the contemplated publication of a weekly

newspaper, printed partly in English, and partly in French, having its

chief office in Paris, and being intended to dispute the advantages of

a European circulation with the well-known Continental journal called

"Galignani's Messenger." A first list of contributors included names of

some notoriety in the literature of England and the literature of

France. Speculators who wished to know, in the first place, on what

security they might reckon, were referred to the managing committee,

represented by persons of importance in the financial worlds of London

and Paris.

Being in a position to make the inquiries which Mrs. Vimpany had

suggested, Hugh received information which verified the statements

contained in the circular, and vouched for the good faith of those

persons who were concerned in directing the speculation. So far, so

good.

But, when the question of success was next discussed, the authorities

consulted shook their wise heads. It was impossible to say what losses

might not be suffered, and what sums of money might not be required,

before the circulation of the new journal would justify the hope of

success. This opinion Hugh communicated to Mrs. Vimpany; Iris was

informed of it by that day's post.

A longer time than usual elapsed before any further news of Lord Harry

and his wife was received by Mountjoy. When he did at last hear again

from Mrs. Vimpany, she forwarded a letter from Iris dated from a new

address, in the suburb of Paris called Passy.