Blind Love

Whether he gave his name or concealed his name, when he asked for Mrs.

Vimpany at the house-door, she would in either case refuse to see him.

The one accessible person whom he could consult in this difficulty was

his faithful old servant.

That experienced man--formerly employed, at various times, in the army,

in the police, and in service at a public school--obtained leave to

make some preliminary investigations on the next morning.

He achieved two important discoveries. In the first place, Mrs. Vimpany

was living in the house in which the letter to his master had been

written. In the second place, there was a page attached to the domestic

establishment (already under notice to leave his situation), who was

accessible to corruption by means of a bribe. The boy would be on the

watch for Mr. Mountjoy at two o'clock on that day, and would show him

where to find Mrs. Vimpany, in the room near the sick man, in which she

was accustomed to take her meals.

Hugh acted on his instructions, and found the page waiting to admit him

secretly to the house. Leading the way upstairs, the boy pointed with

one hand to a door on the second floor, and held out the other hand to

receive his money. While he pocketed the bribe, and disappeared,

Mountjoy opened the door.

Mrs. Vimpany was seated at a table waiting for her dinner. When Hugh

showed himself she started to her feet with a cry of alarm.

"Are you mad?" she exclaimed. "How did you get here? What do you want

here? Don't come near me!"

She attempted to pass Hugh on her way out of the room. He caught her by

the arm, led her back to her chair, and forced her to seat herself

again. "Iris is in trouble," he pleaded, "and you can help her."

"The fever!" she cried, heedless of what he had said. "Keep back from

me--the fever!"

For the second time she tried to get out of the room. For the second

time Hugh stopped her.

"Fever or no fever," he persisted, "I have something to say to you. In

two minutes I shall have said it, and I will go."

In the fewest possible words he described the situation of Iris with

her jealous husband. Mrs. Vimpany indignantly interrupted him.

"Are you running this dreadful risk," she asked, "with nothing to say

to me that I don't know already? Her husband jealous of her? Of course

he is jealous of her! Leave me--or I will ring for the servant."