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Updated: June 28, 2025
He went up the stairs, and turned round as though he wished to say something more. But he changed his mind, and kept his own counsel. An hour later Bernardine left Petershof. Only the concierge of the Kurhaus saw her off at the station. TWO days after Bernardine had left Petershof, the snows began to melt. Nothing could be drearier than that process: nothing more desolate than the outlook.
Bernardine drew herself up to her full height, and looked at the woman with unflinching eyes, saying, slowly: "You have lent yourself to a most cruel scheme to entrap an innocent girl; but know this: I would die by my own hand sooner than marry the villain who had me conveyed in this most despicable way to this isolated place.
A draught of wind blew it open as she approached. As she reached the threshold, Bernardine stood rooted to the spot at the spectacle that met her gaze. Young Mrs. Gardiner was bending over her hapless husband with a face so transformed by hate yes, hate there was no mistaking the expression that it nearly took Bernardine's breath away.
"And who does not scorn to take a pride in her looks because she happens to take a pride in her books," continued Bernardine, looking at the Disagreeable Man, and not seeming to see him: "she is what she is by reason of that grave and loveless woman who won the battle for her." Here she paused. "But how ridiculous for me to talk to you in this way!" she said.
Gardiner?" he gasped, his teeth fairly chattering. "Then, by Heaven! you are a spy, sent here by her to incriminate me, to be a witness against me! It was a clever scheme, but she shall see that it will fail signally." "I am no spy!" replied Bernardine, indignantly, "No one sent me here, least of all, young Mrs. Gardiner!" "I do not believe you!" retorted the man, bluntly.
"At any rate, you know too much of this affair to suit me. You must come along with me." "You are mad!" cried Bernardine, haughtily. "I have, as you say, unwittingly stumbled across some secret in the life of yourself and one who has won the love of a man any woman would have been proud to have called husband!" "So you are in love with the handsome, lordly Jay, eh?" sneered her companion.
But surely you have friends somewhere?" Again Bernardine shook her head, replying, forlornly: "Not one on earth. Papa and I lived only for each other." The policeman looked down thoughtfully for a moment. He said to himself that he ought to try to save her from the fate which he was certain lay before her. "I suppose he left you without a cent, the scoundrel?" he queried, brusquely.
"If there is anything the matter, I will have to take poor papa to the hospital." "I would never go to the hospital, Bernardine," whined the man in a low tone. "That will be the last of me if I ever have to go there." "I would make no charge whatever," said Doctor Gardiner. "My services would be rendered gratis," he added, earnestly.
All this Bernardine took in at a single glance. Jay Gardiner's life hung in the balance. She forgot her surroundings, forgot everything, but that she must save him even though at the risk of her own life. She would have gladly given a hundred lives, if she had them, to save him.
That little worm130 has gnawed a larger nut than you; I have seen him but once, but as soon as I set eyes on him I noticed what sort of bird he was; the Monk turned away his eyes, fearing that I might summon him to confession. But that is not my affair—of that there would be much to say! He will not come here; it would be vain to summon the Bernardine.
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