" Fanny told the story from the beginning.
When she had finished, Mrs. Vimpany looked towards the bedroom door.
"Thank God!" she said, "that you told this story to me instead of to
Mr. Mountjoy. At all events, it gives me time to warn you not to tell
him what you have told me. We can do nothing. Meantime, there is one
thing you must do--go away. Do not let Mr. Mountjoy find you here. He
must not learn your story. If he hears what has happened and reads her
letter, nothing will keep him from following her to Passy. He will see
that there is every prospect of her being entangled in this vile
conspiracy, and he will run any risk in the useless attempt to save
her. He is too weak to bear the journey--far too weak for the violent
emotions that will follow; and, oh! how much too weak to cope with my
husband--as strong and as crafty as he is unprincipled!
"Then, what, in Heaven's name, are we to do?"
"Anything--anything--rather than suffer Mr. Mountjoy, in his weak
state, to interfere between man and wife."
"Yes--yes--but such a man! Mrs. Vimpany, he was present when the Dane
was poisoned. He _knew_ that the man was poisoned. He sat in the chair,
his face white, and he said nothing.
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