'Mr Montague--engaged--to marry--an American widow! I don't believe it.'
'You'd better believe it if it's any concern of yours, for it's true. And it's true too that he travelled about with her for ever so long in the United States, and that he had her down with him at the hotel at Lowestoft about a fortnight ago. There's no mistake about it.'
'I don't believe it,' repeated Hetta, feeling that to say even as much as that was some relief to her. It could not be true. It was impossible that the man should have come to her with such a lie in his mouth as that. Though the words astounded her, though she felt faint, almost as though she would fall in a swoon, yet in her heart of hearts she did not believe it. Surely it was some horrid joke,--or perhaps some trick to divide her from the man she loved. 'Felix, how dare you say things so wicked as that to me?'
'What is there wicked in it? If you have been fool enough to become fond of the man, it is only right you should be told. He is engaged to marry Mrs Hurtle, and she is lodging with one Mrs Pipkin in Islington. I know the house, and could take you there to-morrow, and show you the woman. There,' said he, 'that's where she is;'--and he wrote Mrs Hurtle's name down on a scrap of paper.
'It is not true,' said Hetta, rising from her seat, and standing upright. 'I am engaged to Mr Montague, and I am sure he would not treat me in that way.'
'Then, by heaven, he shall answer it to me,' said Felix, jumping up. 'If he has done that, it is time that I should interfere. As true as I stand here, he is engaged to marry a woman called Mrs Hurtle whom he constantly visits at that place in Islington.'
'I do not believe it,' said Hetta, repeating the only defence for her lover which was applicable at the moment.
'By George, this is beyond a joke. Will you believe it if Roger Carbury says it's true? I know you'd believe anything fast enough against me, if he told you.'
'Roger Carbury will not say so?'
'Have you the courage to ask him? I say he will say so. He knows all about it,--and has seen the woman.'
'How can you know? Has Roger told you?'
'I do know, and that's enough. I will make this square with Master Paul. By heaven, yes! He shall answer to me. But my mother must manage you. She will not scruple to ask Roger, and she will believe what Roger tells her.'