`I do understand it. Now, Percival, come at once to the point, and then I shall know what to do. Where is the danger of your position at the present moment?'
`Anne Catherick is in this neighbourhood, and in communication with Lady Glyde -- there's the danger, plain enough. Who can read the letter she hid in the sand, and not see that my wife is in possession of the Secret, deny it as she may?'
`One moment, Percival. If Lady Glyde does know the Secret, she must know also that it is a compromising secret for you. As your wife, surely it is in her interest to keep it?'
`Is it? I'm coming to that. It might be her interest if she cared two straws about me. But I happen to be an encumbrance in the way of another man. She was in love with him before she married me -- she's in love with him now -- an infernal vagabond of a drawing-master, named Hartright.'
`My dear friend! what is there extraordinary in that? They are all in love with some other man. Who gets the first of a woman's heart? In all my experience I have never yet met with the man who was Number One. Number Two, sometimes. Number Three, Four, Five, often. Number One, never! He exists, of course -- but I have not met with hun- .'
`Wait! I haven't done yet. Who do you think helped Anne Catherick to get the start, when the people from the mad-house were after her? Hartright. Who do you think saw her again in Cumberland? Hartright Both times he spoke to her alone. Stop! don't interrupt me. The scoundrel's as sweet on my wife as she is on him. He knows the Secret, and she knows the Secret. Once let them both get together again, and it's her interest and his interest to turn their information against me.'
`Gently, Percival -- gently I Are you insensible to the virtue of Lady Glyde?'
`That for the virtue of Lady Glyde! I believe in nothing about her but her money. Don't you see how the case stands? She might be harmless enough by herself; but if she had that vagabond Hartright --'
`Yes, yes, I see. Where is Mr Hartright?'
`Out of the country. If he means to keep a whole skin on his bones, I recommend him not to come back in a hurry.'
`Are you sure he is out of the country?'
`Certain. I had him watched from the time he left Cumberland to the time he sailed. Oh, I've been careful, I can tell you! Anne Catherick lived with some people at a farm-house near Limmeridge. I went there myself, after she had given me the slip, and made sure that they knew nothing. I gave her mother a form of letter to write to Miss Halcombe, exonerating me from any bad motive in putting her under restraint. I've spent, I'm afraid to say how much, in trying to trace her, and in spite of it all, she turns up here and escapes me on my own property! How do I know who else may see her, who else may speak to her? That prying scoundrel, Hartright, may come back without my knowing it, and may make use of her tomorrow -- '
`Not he, Percival! While I am on the spot, and while that woman is in the neighbourhood, I will answer for our laying hands on her before Mr Hartright -- even if he does come back. I see! yes, yes, I see! The finding of Anne Catherick is the first necessity -- make your mind easy about the rest. Your wife is here, under your thumb -- Miss Halcombe is inseparable from her, and is, therefore, under your thumb also -- and Mr Hartright is out of the country. This invisible Anne of yours is all we have to think of for the present. You have made your inquiries?'
`Yes. I have been to her mother, I have ransacked the village -- and all to no purpose.'
`Is her mother to be depended on?'