Chapter 10

by William Somerset Maugham

　　Susie stared without comprehension at the note that announced Margaret'smarriage. It was a petit bleu sent off from the Gare du Nord, and ranas follows:When you receive this I shall be on my way to London. I was married toOliver Haddo this morning. I love him as I never loved Arthur. I haveacted in this manner because I thought I had gone too far with Arthur tomake an explanation possible. Please tell him.MARGARETSusie was filled with dismay. She did not know what to do nor what tothink. There was a knock at the door, and she knew it must be Arthur, forhe was expected at midday. She decided quickly that it was impossible tobreak the news to him then and there. It was needful first to find outall manner of things, and besides, it was incredible. Making up her mind,she opened the door.'Oh, I'm so sorry Margaret isn't here,' she said. 'A friend of hers isill and sent for her suddenly.''What a bore!' answered Arthur. 'Mrs Bloomfield as usual, I suppose?''Oh, you know she's been ill?''Margaret has spent nearly every afternoon with her for some days.'Susie did not answer. This was the first she had heard of MrsBloomfield's illness, and it was news that Margaret was in the habitof visiting her. But her chief object at this moment was to get ridof Arthur.'Won't you come back at five o'clock?' she said.'But, look here, why shouldn't we lunch together, you and I?''I'm very sorry, but I'm expecting somebody in.''Oh, all right. Then I'll come back at five.'He nodded and went out. Susie read the brief note once more, andasked herself if it could possibly be true. The callousness of it wasappalling. She went to Margaret's room and saw that everything was inits place. It did not look as if the owner had gone on a journey. Butthen she noticed that a number of letters had been destroyed. She openeda drawer and found that Margaret's trinkets were gone. An idea struckher. Margaret had bought lately a number of clothes, and these she hadinsisted should be sent to her dressmaker, saying that it was needlessto cumber their little apartment with them. They could stay there tillshe returned to England a few weeks later for her marriage, and it wouldbe simpler to despatch them all from one place. Susie went out. At thedoor it occurred to her to ask the concierge if she knew where Margarethad gone that morning.'Parfaitement, Mademoiselle,' answered the old woman. 'I heard her tellthe coachman to go to the British Consulate.'The last doubt was leaving Susie. She went to the dressmaker and therediscovered that by Margaret's order the boxes containing her things hadgone on the previous day to the luggage office of the Gare du Nord.'I hope you didn't let them go till your bill was paid,' said Susielightly, as though in jest.The dressmaker laughed.'Mademoiselle paid for everything two or three days ago.'With indignation, Susie realised that Margaret had not only taken awaythe trousseau bought for her marriage with Arthur; but, since she washerself penniless, had paid for it with the money which he had generouslygiven her. Susie drove then to Mrs Bloomfield, who at once reproached herfor not coming to see her.'I'm sorry, but I've been exceedingly busy, and I knew that Margaret waslooking after you.''I've not seen Margaret for three weeks,' said the invalid.'Haven't you? I thought she dropped in quite often.'Susie spoke as though the matter were of no importance. She asked herselfnow where Margaret could have spent those afternoons. By a great effortshe forced herself to speak of casual things with the garrulous old ladylong enough to make her visit seem natural. On leaving her, she went tothe Consulate, and her last doubt was dissipated. Then nothing remainedbut to go home and wait for Arthur. Her first impulse had been to see DrPorhoet and ask for his advice; but, even if he offered to come back withher to the studio, his presence would be useless. She must see Arthur byhimself. Her heart was wrung as she thought of the man's agony when heknew the truth. She had confessed to herself long before that she lovedhim passionately, and it seemed intolerable that she of all persons mustbear him this great blow.She sat in the studio, counting the minutes, and thought with a bittersmile that his eagerness to see Margaret would make him punctual. She hadeaten nothing since the petit dejeuner of the morning, and she wasfaint with hunger. But she had not the heart to make herself tea. At lasthe came. He entered joyfully and looked around.'Is Margaret not here yet?' he asked, with surprise.'Won't you sit down?'He did not notice that her voice was strange, nor that she kept her eyesaverted.'How lazy you are,' he cried. 'You haven't got the tea.''Mr Burdon, I have something to say to you. It will cause you very greatpain.'He observed now the hoarseness of her tone. He sprang to his feet, anda thousand fancies flashed across his brain. Something horrible hadhappened to Margaret. She was ill. His terror was so great that he couldnot speak. He put out his hands as does a blind man. Susie had to make aneffort to go on. But she could not. Her voice was choked, and she beganto cry. Arthur trembled as though he were seized with ague. She gave himthe letter.'What does it mean?'He looked at her vacantly. Then she told him all that she had done thatday and the places to which she had been.'When you thought she was spending every afternoon with Mrs Bloomfield,she was with that man. She made all the arrangements with the utmostcare. It was quite premeditated.'Arthur sat down and leaned his head on his hand. He turned his backto her, so that she should not see his face. They remained in perfectsilence. And it was so terrible that Susie began to cry quietly. She knewthat the man she loved was suffering an agony greater than the agony ofdeath, and she could not help him. Rage flared up in her heart, andhatred for Margaret.'Oh, it's infamous!' she cried suddenly. 'She's lied to you, she's beenodiously deceitful. She must be vile and heartless. She must be rotten tothe very soul.'He turned round sharply, and his voice was hard.'I forbid you to say anything against her.'Susie gave a little gasp. He had never spoken to her before in anger. Sheflashed out bitterly.'Can you love her still, when she's shown herself capable of such viletreachery? For nearly a month this man must have been making love to her,and she's listened to all we said of him. She's pretended to hate thesight of him, I've seen her cut him in the street. She's gone on with allthe preparations for your marriage. She must have lived in a world oflies, and you never suspected anything because you had an unalterablebelief in her love and truthfulness. She owes everything to you. For fouryears she's lived on your charity. She was only able to be here becauseyou gave her money to carry out a foolish whim, and the very clothes onher back were paid for by you.''I can't help it if she didn't love me,' he cried desperately.'You know just as well as I do that she pretended to love you. Oh, she'sbehaved shamefully. There can be no excuse for her.'He looked at Susie with haggard, miserable eyes.'How can you be so cruel? For God's sake don't make it harder.'There was an indescribable agony in his voice. And as if his own words ofpain overcame the last barrier of his self-control, he broke down. He hidhis face in his hands and sobbed. Susie was horribly conscience-stricken.'Oh, I'm so sorry,' she said. 'I didn't mean to say such hateful things.I didn't mean to be unkind. I ought to have remembered how passionatelyyou love her.'It was very painful to see the effort he made to regain his self-command.Susie suffered as much as he did. Her impulse was to throw herself on herknees, and kiss his hands, and comfort him; but she knew that he wasinterested in her only because she was Margaret's friend. At last hegot up and, taking his pipe from his pocket, filled it silently. She wasterrified at the look on his face. The first time she had ever seen him,Susie wondered at the possibility of self-torture which was in thatrough-hewn countenance; but she had never dreamed that it could expresssuch unutterable suffering. Its lines were suddenly changed, and it wasterrible to look upon.'I can't believe it's true,' he muttered. 'I can't believe it.'There was a knock at the door, and Arthur gave a startled cry.'Perhaps she's come back.'He opened it hurriedly, his face suddenly lit up by expectation; but itwas Dr Porhoet.'How do you do?' said the Frenchman. 'What is happening?'He looked round and caught the dismay that was on the faces of Arthur andSusie.'Where is Miss Margaret? I thought you must be giving a party.'There was something in his manner that made Susie ask why.'I received a telegram from Mr Haddo this morning.'He took it from his pocket and handed it to Susie. She read it and passedit to Arthur. It said:Come to the studio at five. High jinks.Oliver Haddo'Margaret was married to Mr Haddo this morning,' said Arthur, quietly. 'Iunderstand they have gone to England.'Susie quickly told the doctor the few facts they knew. He was assurprised, as distressed, as they.'But what is the explanation of it all?' he asked.Arthur shrugged his shoulders wearily.'She cared for Haddo more than she cared for me, I suppose. It isnatural enough that she should go away in this fashion rather than offerexplanations. I suppose she wanted to save herself a scene she thoughtmight be rather painful.''When did you see her last?''We spent yesterday evening together.''And did she not show in any way that she contemplated such a step?'Arthur shook his head.'You had no quarrel?''We've never quarrelled. She was in the best of spirits. I've never seenher more gay. She talked the whole time of our house in London, and ofthe places we must visit when we were married.'Another contraction of pain passed over his face as he remembered thatshe had been more affectionate than she had ever been before. The fireof her kisses still burnt upon his lips. He had spent a night of almostsleepless ecstasy because he had been certain for the first time that thepassion which consumed him burnt in her heart too. Words were dragged outof him against his will.'Oh, I'm sure she loved me.'Meanwhile Susie's eyes were fixed on Haddo's cruel telegram. She seemedto hear his mocking laughter.'Margaret loathed Oliver Haddo with a hatred that was almost unnatural.It was a physical repulsion like that which people sometimes have forcertain animals. What can have happened to change it into so great a lovethat it has made her capable of such villainous acts?''We mustn't be unfair to him,' said Arthur. 'He put our backs up, and wewere probably unjust. He has done some very remarkable things in his day,and he's no fool. It's possible that some people wouldn't mind theeccentricities which irritated us. He's certainly of very good family andhe's rich. In many ways it's an excellent match for Margaret.'He was trying with all his might to find excuses for her. It would notmake her treachery so intolerable if he could persuade himself that Haddohad qualities which might explain her infatuation. But as his enemy stoodbefore his fancy, monstrously obese, vulgar, and overbearing, a shudderpassed through him. The thought of Margaret in that man's arms torturedhim as though his flesh were torn with iron hooks.'Perhaps it's not true. Perhaps she'll return,' he cried.'Would you take her back if she came to you?' asked Susie.'Do you think anything she can do has the power to make me love her less?There must be reasons of which we know nothing that caused her to do allshe has done. I daresay it was inevitable from the beginning.'Dr Porhoet got up and walked across the room.'If a woman had done me such an injury that I wanted to take somehorrible vengeance, I think I could devise nothing more subtly cruel thanto let her be married to Oliver Haddo.''Ah, poor thing, poor thing!' said Arthur. 'If I could only suppose shewould be happy! The future terrifies me.''I wonder if she knew that Haddo had sent that telegram,' said Susie.'What can it matter?'She turned to Arthur gravely.'Do you remember that day, in this studio, when he kicked Margaret'sdog, and you thrashed him? Well, afterwards, when he thought no one sawhim, I happened to catch sight of his face. I never saw in my life suchmalignant hatred. It was the face of a fiend of wickedness. And whenhe tried to excuse himself, there was a cruel gleam in his eyes whichterrified me. I warned you; I told you that he had made up his mind torevenge himself, but you laughed at me. And then he seemed to go out ofour lives and I thought no more about it. I wonder why he sent Dr Porhoethere today. He must have known that the doctor would hear of hishumiliation, and he may have wished that he should be present at histriumph. I think that very moment he made up his mind to be even withyou, and he devised this odious scheme.''How could he know that it was possible to carry out such a horriblething?' said Arthur.'I wonder if Miss Boyd is right,' murmured the doctor. 'After all, ifyou come to think of it, he must have thought that he couldn't hurtyou more. The whole thing is fiendish. He took away from you all yourhappiness. He must have known that you wanted nothing in the world morethan to make Margaret your wife, and he has not only prevented that, buthe has married her himself. And he can only have done it by poisoningher mind, by warping her very character. Her soul must be horriblybesmirched; he must have entirely changed her personality.''Ah, I feel that,' cried Arthur. 'If Margaret has broken her word to me,if she's gone to him so callously, it's because it's not the Margaret Iknow. Some devil must have taken possession of her body.''You use a figure of speech. I wonder if it can possibly be a reality.'Arthur and Dr Porhoet looked at Susie with astonishment.'I can't believe that Margaret could have done such a thing,' she wenton. 'The more I think of it, the more incredible it seems. I've knownMargaret for years, and she was incapable of deceit. She was verykind-hearted. She was honest and truthful. In the first moment ofhorror, I was only indignant, but I don't want to think too badly ofher. There is only one way to excuse her, and that is by supposing sheacted under some strange compulsion.'Arthur clenched his hands.'I'm not sure if that doesn't make it more awful than before. If he'smarried her, not because he cares, but in order to hurt me, what lifewill she lead with him? We know how heartless he is, how vindictive, howhorribly cruel.''Dr Porhoet knows more about these things than we do,' said Susie. 'Is itpossible that Haddo can have cast some spell upon her that would make herunable to resist his will? Is it possible that he can have got such aninfluence over her that her whole character was changed?''How can I tell?' cried the doctor helplessly. 'I have heard that suchthings may happen. I have read of them, but I have no proof. In thesematters all is obscurity. The adepts in magic make strange claims. Arthuris a man of science, and he knows what the limits of hypnotism are.''We know that Haddo had powers that other men have not,' answered Susie.'Perhaps there was enough truth in his extravagant pretensions to enablehim to do something that we can hardly imagine.'Arthur passed his hands wearily over his face.'I'm so broken, so confused, that I cannot think sanely. At this momenteverything seems possible. My faith in all the truths that have supportedme is tottering.'For a while they remained silent. Arthur's eyes rested on the chair inwhich Margaret had so often sat. An unfinished canvas still stood uponthe easel. It was Dr Porhoet who spoke at last.'But even if there were some truth in Miss Boyd's suppositions, I don'tsee how it can help you. You cannot do anything. You have no remedy,legal or otherwise. Margaret is apparently a free agent, and she hasmarried this man. It is plain that many people will think she has donemuch better in marrying a country gentleman than in marrying a youngsurgeon. Her letter is perfectly lucid. There is no trace of compulsion.To all intents and purposes she has married him of her own free-will, andthere is nothing to show that she desires to be released from him or fromthe passion which we may suppose enslaves her.'What he said was obviously true, and no reply was possible.'The only thing is to grin and bear it,' said Arthur, rising.'Where are you going?' said Susie.'I think I want to get away from Paris. Here everything will remind me ofwhat I have lost. I must get back to my work.'He had regained command over himself, and except for the hopeless woe ofhis face, which he could not prevent from being visible, he was as calmas ever. He held out his hand to Susie.'I can only hope that you'll forget,' she said.'I don't wish to forget,' he answered, shaking his head. 'It's possiblethat you will hear from Margaret. She'll want the things that she hasleft here, and I daresay will write to you. I should like you to tell herthat I bear her no ill-will for anything she has done, and I will neverventure to reproach her. I don't know if I shall be able to do anythingfor her, but I wish her to know that in any case and always I will doeverything that she wants.''If she writes to me, I will see that she is told,' answered Susiegravely.'And now goodbye.''You can't go to London till tomorrow. Shan't I see you in the morning?''I think if you don't mind, I won't come here again. The sight of allthis rather disturbs me.'Again a contraction of pain passed across his eyes, and Susie saw that hewas using a superhuman effort to preserve the appearance of composure.She hesitated a moment.'Shall I never see you again?' she said. 'I should be sorry to lose sightof you entirely.''I should be sorry, too,' he answered. 'I have learned how good and kindyou are, and I shall never forget that you are Margaret's friend. Whenyou come to London, I hope that you will let me know.'He went out. Dr Porhoet, his hands behind his back, began to walk up anddown the room. At last he turned to Susie.'There is one thing that puzzles me,' he said. 'Why did he marry her?''You heard what Arthur said,' answered Susie bitterly. 'Whateverhappened, he would have taken her back. The other man knew that he couldonly bind her to him securely by going through the ceremonies ofmarriage.'Dr Porhoet shrugged his shoulders, and presently he left her. When Susiewas alone she began to weep broken-heartedly, not for herself, butbecause Arthur suffered an agony that was hardly endurable.