Blind Love

"What have they done it for? First of all, I suppose, to get money. If

it were not for the purpose of getting money the doctor would have had

nothing to do with the conspiracy, which was his own invention. That is

very certain. Your idea was they would try to get money out of the

Insurance Offices. I suppose that is their design. But Lord Harry may

have many other secret reasons of his own for wishing to be thought

dead. They say his life has been full of wicked things, and he may well

wish to be considered dead and gone. Lots of wicked men would like

above all things, I should think, to be considered dead and buried. But

the money matter is at the bottom of all, I am convinced. What are we

to do?"

What could they do? These two women had got hold of a terrible secret.

Neither of them could move. It was too big a thing. One cannot expect a

woman to bring her own husband--however wicked a husband he may be--to

the awful shame and horror of the gallows if murder should be

proved--or to a lifelong imprisonment if the conspiracy alone should be

brought home to him. Therefore Mrs. Vimpany could do nothing. As for

Fanny, the mere thought of the pain she would inflict upon her

mistress, were Lord Harry, through her interference, to be brought to

justice and an infamous sentence, kept her quiet.

Meantime, the announcement of Lord Harry's death had been made. Those

who knew the family history spoke cheerfully of the event. "Best timing

he had ever done. Very good thing for his people. One more bad lot out

of the way. Dead, Sir, and a very good thing, too. Married, I believe.

One of the men who have done everything. Pity they can't write a life

of him." These were the comments made upon the decease of this young

gentleman. Such is fame. Next day he was clean forgotten; just as if he

had never existed. Such is life.