Manston's evidence that the watch was his wife's.' 'He was sure of that, wasn't he?' 'I believe he said he was certain of it.' 'It might have been hers--left behind in her perturbation, as they say it was--impossible as that seems at first sight. Yes--on the whole, he might have believed in her death.' 'I know by several proofs that then, and at least for some time after, he had no other thought than that she was dead. I now think that before the porter's confession he knew something about her --though not that she lived.' 'Why do you?' 'From what he said to me on the evening of the wedding-day, when I had fastened myself in the room at the hotel, after Edward's visit.
He must have suspected that I knew something, for he was irritated, and in a passion of uneasy doubt. He said, "You don't suppose my first wife is come to light again, madam, surely?" Directly he had let the remark slip out, he seemed anxious to withdraw it.' 'That's odd,' said Owen.
'I thought it very odd.' 'Still we must remember he might only have hit upon the thought by accident, in doubt as to your motive. Yes, the great point to discover remains the same as ever--did he doubt his first impression of her death _before_ he married you. I can't help thinking he did, although he was so astounded at our news that night. Edward swears he did.' 'It was perhaps only a short time before,' said Cytherea; 'when he could hardly recede from having me.
'Seasoning justice with mercy as usual, Cytherea. 'Tis unfair to yourself to talk like that. If I could only bring him to ruin as a bigamist--supposing him to be one--I should die happy. That's what we must find out by fair means or foul--was he a wilful bigamist?' 'It is no use trying, Owen. You would have to employ a solicitor, and how can you do that?' 'I can't at all--I know that very well. But neither do I altogether wish to at present--a lawyer must have a case--facts to go upon, that means. Now they are scarce at present--as scarce as money is with us, and till we have found more money there is no hurry for a lawyer. Perhaps by the time we have the facts we shall have the money. The only thing we lose in working alone in this way, is time--not the issue: for the fruit that one mind matures in a twelvemonth forms a more perfectly organized whole than that of twelve minds in one month, especially if the interests of the single one are vitally concerned, and those of the twelve are only hired.