Wade We must remember the peculiar state of her health. As far
as _I_ am concerned, Dr. Jenkins's evidence is final, and entirely
satisfactory. As for the dirty calumnies of dirty-minded
reactionists, _I_ am not the man to give ear to them!"
One man there was who might have been expected to credit such
charges, yet surprised his acquaintances by what seemed an unwonted
exercise of charity. Mr. Scatchard Vialls, hitherto active in
defamation of Quarrier, with amiable inconsistency refused to
believe him guilty of conduct which had driven his wife to suicide.
It was some days before the rumour reached his ears. Since the
passage of arms with Serena, he had held aloof from Mrs. Mumbray's
drawing-room, and his personality did not invite the confidence of
ordinary scandal-mongers. When at length his curate hinted to him
what was being said, he had so clearly formulated his own theory of
Mrs. Quarrier's death that only the strongest evidence would have
led him to reconsider it. Obstinacy and intellectual conceit forbade
him to indulge his disposition to paint an enemy's character in the
darkest colours.
"No, Mr. Blenkinsop," he replied to the submissive curate, standing
on his hearth-rug at full height and regarding the cornice as his
habit was when he began to monologize--"no, I find it impossible
to entertain such an accusation.
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