She watched him with wide-open eyes, her lips parted.
"And she--this Vera Carson?"
The man laughed bitterly.
"Wrote him a letter, which the man actually had the nerve to show me when I was helpless, proving her falsity. I would not believe, and went back seeking her. But she had departed--no one knew where--but had first convinced herself that my name had been erased from my uncle's will. Two months later I heard that she married Le Fevre in Richmond."
"And she--that woman--actually asked you to meet her again to-night?"
"Yes."
"Did you?"
"I must plead guilty."
"Where?"
"Here; just where we are now; we were together half an hour."
She half arose to her feet, her hand grasping the rail.
"But I cannot understand. Why should you? Do you--"
"No; wait," he interrupted, venturing to touch her arm. "I came, not because of any interest in her, Miss Molly--but for you."