Out of regard for the
lady I could not approach her husband, and so betray her; out of regard
for the husband I could not approach himself and destroy his peace; out
of regard for all concerned I could not approach the lady's father, for
then--"
Masson interrupted with an oath.
"That old reprobate of Cadiz--well no, bagosh!
"And so you whisked me into your office with the talk of urgent business
and--"
"Is not the business urgent, monsieur?"
"Not at all," was the sharp reply of the culprit.
"Monsieur, you shock me. Do you consider that your conduct is not
criminal? I have here"--he placed his hand on a book--"the Statutes of
Victoria, and it lays down with wholesome severity the law concerning the
theft of the affection of a wife, with the accompanying penalty, going as
high as twenty thousand dollars."
George Masson gasped. Here was a new turn of affairs. But he set his
teeth.
"Twenty thousand dollars--think of that!" he sneered angrily.
"That is what I said, monsieur. I said I could save you money, and money
saved is money earned. I am your benefactor, if you will but permit me to
be so, monsieur. I would save you from the law, and from the damages
which the law gives. Can you not guess what would be given in a court of
the Catholic province of Quebec, against the violation of a good man's
home? Do you not see that the business is urgent?"
"Not at all," curtly replied the master-carpenter.
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