I have been a
heavy loser by your pigheaded obstinacy; and I dare say before you and
Phil Sheldon have done with each other, you too will find yourself a
loser."
"God help me, yes!" cried Valentine, with a groan; "I stand to make the
heaviest loss that was ever made by man."
"What do you mean?" exclaimed George.
"Shall I tell you what you meant when you warned me against your own
brother? Shall I tell you why you so warned me? You know that Philip
Sheldon murdered Tom Halliday."
"Great God!"
"Yes; the secret is out. You knew it; how or when you discovered it I
cannot tell. You knew of that one hellish crime, and would have prevented
the commission of a second murder. You should have spoken more plainly.
To know what you knew, and to confine yourself to cautious hints and
vague suggestions, as you did, was to have part in that devilish work. If
Charlotte Halliday dies, her blood be upon your head--upon yours--as well
as upon his!"
The young man had risen in his passion, and stood before George Sheldon
with uplifted hands, and eyes that flashed angry lightnings. It seemed
almost as if he would have called down the Divine vengeance upon this
man's head.
"If Charlotte Halliday dies!" repeated George, in a horror-stricken
whisper; "why should you suggest such a thing?"
"Because she is dying."
There was a pause. Valentine flung himself passionately upon the chair
from which he had just risen, with his back to George Sheldon, and his
face bent over the back of the chair.
Pages:
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393