"Then indeed, the way would be even clearer,--were not his wife your sister."
Kate looked at him, a half knowledge of his meaning beginning to dawn in her eyes.
"How?" she asked laconically.
"In case his wife should leave him do you think my lord would hold his head so high?"
Kate still looked puzzled.
"If some one else should win her affection, and should persuade her to leave a husband who did not love her, and who was bestowing his heart"--he hesitated an instant and his eye traveled significantly to the roll of bills still lying where David had left them--"and his gifts," he hazarded, "upon another woman----"
Kate grasped the thought at once and an evil glint of eagerness showed in her eyes. She could see what an advantage it would be to herself to have Marcia removed from the situation. It would break one more cord of honor that bound David to a code which was hateful to her now, because its existence shamed her. Nevertheless, unscrupulous as she was she could not see how this was a possibility.
"But she is offensively good too," she said as if answering her own thoughts.
"All goodness has its weak spot," sneered the man. "If I mistake not you have found my lord's. It is possible I might find his wife's."
The two pairs of eyes met then, filled with evil light. It was as if for an instant they were permitted to look into the pit, and see the possibilities of wickedness, and exult in it. The lurid glare of their thoughts played in their faces. All the passion of hate and revenge rushed upon Kate in a frenzy. With all her heart she wished this might be. She looked her co-operation in the plan even before her hard voice answered: "You need not stop because she is my sister."
He felt he had her permission, and he permitted himself a glance of admiration for the depths to which she could go without being daunted. Here was evil courage worthy of his teaching. She seemed to him beautiful enough and daring enough for Satan himself to admire.
"And may I have the pleasure of knowing that I would by so doing serve my lady in some wise?"
She drooped her shameless eyes and murmured guardedly, "Perhaps." Then she swept him a coquettish glance that meant they understood one another.
"Then I shall feel well rewarded," he said gallantly, and bowing with more than his ordinary flattery of look bade her good day and went out.