do that job for you.  It seems to have the whip-hand with him just now.  Well, he was the whole thing with your wife when she went away this fall and then he began to take up with the general’s girl—­sort of to keep his hand in, I suppose—­the damn fool!  For she ain’t a patch on your wife.  I guess Mrs. Langham had been tipped off to this new deal—­that’s what brought her back to Mount Hope in such a hurry, and she went to his rooms to have it out with him and learn just where she stood.  I was in my bedroom and I could hear them talking through the partition.  It wasn’t peaches and cream, for she was rowing all right!”

“It’s a lie!” cried Langham, and he strove to rise to his feet, but Gilmore’s strong hand kept him in his chair.

“No, I don’t lie, Marsh, you ought to know that by this time; but there’s just one point you want to get through your head; with your wife’s help North can prove an alibi.  He won’t want to compromise her, or himself with the Herbert girl, for that matter; but how long do you think he’s going to keep his mouth shut with the gallows staring him in the face?  I’m willing to go as far in this matter as the next, but you got to do your part and pay the price, or I’ll throw you down so hard you’ll never get over the jar!” His heavy jaws protruded.  “Now, I’ve a notion I want to know your wife.  I like her style.  I guess you can trust her with me—­you ain’t afraid of that, are you?”

“Take your hands off me!” cried Langham, struggling fiercely.

He tore at the gambler’s wrists, but Gilmore only laughed his tantalizing laugh.

“Oh, come, Marsh, let’s get back to the main point.  If North’s indicted and your wife’s summoned as a witness, she’s got to chip in with us, she’s got to deny that she was in his room that day—­you got to see to that, I can’t do everything—­”

“On your word—­”

“Well, you needn’t quote me to her—­it wouldn’t help my standing with her—­but ask her where she was between half past five and six the day of the murder; and mind this, you must make her understand she’s got to keep still no matter what happens!  Put aside the notion that North won’t summon her; wait until he is really in danger and then see how quick he squeals!”

“She may have gone to his rooms,” said Langham chokingly, “but that doesn’t prove anything wrong—­”

“Oh, come, Marsh, you ain’t fool enough to feel that way about it—­”

“Let me up, Gilmore!”

“No, I won’t; I’m trying to make you see things straight for your own good.  What’s the matter, anyhow; don’t you and your wife get on?”

Langham’s face was purple with rage and shame, while his eyes burned with a murderous hate.  Rude hands had uncovered his hidden sore; yet ruder speech was making mock of the disgraceful secret.  It was of his wife that this coarse bully was speaking!  That what he said was probably true—­Evelyn herself had admitted much—­did not in the least ease the blow that had crushed his pride and self-respect.  He lay back in his chair, limp and panting under Gilmore’s strong hands.  Where was his own strength of heart and arm that he should be left powerless in this moment of unspeakable degradation?