"Well, Mrs. Dudleigh," said Leon, coolly, "for your information I will
simply state that the--ahem--lieutenant here is my very particular
friend--in fact, my most intimate and most valued friend--and in his
tender affection for me he undertook this little affair at my
instigation. It's all my act, all through, every bit of it, but the
carrying out of the details was--ahem--his. The marriage, however, is
perfectly valid. The banns were published all right. So you may feel
quite at ease."

"Oh," cried Edith, "how basely, how terribly, I have been deceived! And
it is all lies! It was all lies, lies, lies from the beginning!"

Suddenly a fierce thrill of indignation flashed through her. She started
to her feet.

"It is all a lie from beginning to end!" she exclaimed, in a voice which
was totally changed from that wail of despair which had been heard once
before. It was a firm, proud, stern voice. She had fallen back upon her
own lofty soul, and had sought refuge in that resolute nature of hers
which had sustained her before this in other dire emergencies. "Yes,"
she said, sternly, "a lie; and this mock-marriage is a lie. Villains,
stand off. I am going home."

"Not without me," said Leon, who for a moment stood silent, amazed at
the change in Edith's voice and manner. "You must not leave your
husband."

"You shall not come to Dalton Hall," said Edith.

"I shall not? Who can keep me out?"