ed savagely.

"And afterwards?" she asked simply.

"Afterwards?"

"Yes ... afterwards? ... when Sue has discovered how she has been
tricked? ... Are you not afraid of what she might do? ... Even though
her money may pass into your hands ... even though you may inveigle her
into a clandestine marriage ... she is still the daughter of the late
Earl of Dover ... she has landed estates, wealth, rich and powerful
relations.... There must be an 'afterwards,' remember! ..."

His ironical laugh grated on her nerves, as he replied lightly:

"Pshaw! my dear Editha! of a truth you are not your own calm self
to-day, else you had understood that forsooth! in the love affairs of
Prince Amede d'Orleans and Lady Susannah Aldmarshe there must and can be
no 'afterwards.'"

"I don't understand you."

"Yet, 'tis simple enough. Sue is my wife."

"Your wife! ..." she exclaimed.

"Hush! An you want to scream, I pray you question me not, for what I say
is bound to startle you. Sue is my wife. I married her, having obtained
a special license to do so in the name of Prince Amede Henri d'Orleans,
and all the rest of the romantic paraphernalia. She is my wife, and
therefore, her money and fortune are mine, every penny of it, without
question or demur."

"She will appeal to the Court to have the marriage annulled ... she'll
rouse public indignation against you to such a pitch that you'll not be
able to look one of your kith and kin in the face.... The whole shameful
story of the mysterious French prince ... your tricks to win the hand of
your ward by lying, cheating and willful deceit will resound from one
end of the country to the other.... What is the use of a mint of money
if you have to herd with outcasts, and not an honest man will shake you
by the hand?"

"None, my dear Editha, none," he replied quietly, "and 'tis of still
less use for you to rack your nerves in order to place before me a
gruesome picture of the miserable social pariah which I should become,
if the story of my impersonation of a romantic exile for the purpose of
capturing the hand of my ward came to the ears of those in authority."

"Whither it doubtless would come!" she affirmed hotly.

"Whither it doubtless would come," he assented, "and therefore, my dear
Editha, once the money is safely in my hands I will leave her Royal
Highness the Princesse d'Orleans in full possession, not only of her
landed estates but of the freedom conferred on her by widowhood, for