Chapter 19 Chapter 19 The Broken Marriage

Bridget heard Luke driving back, and went up to the steps to meet him, saying flatly: "I told him." "What?" Luke was taken aback. Bridget saw his panic at once, and asked: "Luke, what's the matter? You seem to feel very disturbed." He said slowly: "I thought we agreed to tell him when I got back." "I know, but I think it's too early to tell. He's already planning—a wedding, a honeymoon, and so on, so I have to tell him!" She said again in a slightly reproachful tone: "That's the only way to be polite."

He admitted: "From your point of view, yes. Oh, yes, I see what you mean." "I think that's how it should be from anyone's point of view!" Luke said slowly: "Sometimes we really don't care about style." "Luke, what do you mean?" With a gesture of impatience he said: "I can't tell you here now. How did Whitfield react?" Bridget said slowly: "He was so good, really, really good. It made me feel so ashamed. Luke, I think I used to underestimate him just because he was arrogant and sometimes there was nothing to redeem him. Actually he —a little giant, so to speak.”

Luke nodded. "Yes, perhaps, he's very great--in some ways we haven't even suspected. Listen to me, Bridget, you must get out of here as soon as possible." "Of course, I'll pack up and leave today, and you'll drive me into town, and we can stay together at the Bells Hotel—if Ellsworthy's followers have left." Luke shook his head. "No, you'd better go back to London, and I'll explain to you right away. I'd better see Whitfield now." "I think so too, kind of cruel, isn't it? I feel like a mean little gold digger."

Luke smiled at her and said: "It's a fair deal, and you've told him the truth. Anyway, the raw rice has been cooked, and there's no point being upset. I'm going to see Whitfield now." Sir Whitfield was striding back and forth in the living room. He looked very calm on the outside, and there was even a faint smile on his mouth.But Luke found his temple pulse beating angrily. As soon as Luke came in, he turned immediately and said: "Oh, here you come, Fitzwilliam." Luke said, "I don't think it's any good if I say I'm sorry, that would be hypocritical. I admit that from your standpoint I behaved badly, and I have nothing to say. There are such things in the world. thing."

Sir Whitfield began pacing again, shaking his right hand, and said: "Not bad!" Luke added: "Bridget and I both feel sorry for you, but that's the way it is, we love each other, and there's nothing we can do but tell you the truth." Sir Whitfield stopped, glared at Luke, and said: "Yes, there is nothing you can do!" His voice was very strange, and he stood silently staring at Luke, shaking his head slightly, as if he felt pity for him. Luke asked sharply, "What do you mean?" "There's nothing you can do!" said Sir Whitfield. "It's too late!"

Luke took a step closer to him and asked again: "Tell me, what the hell do you mean?" Sir Whitfield said suddenly and unexpectedly: "Ask Honaria Waynflete. She must know, she knows what happened, and talked to me once." "What does she know?" Sir Whitfield said: "Evil comes around, and justice must prevail! I feel sorry because I like Bridget. In a way, I feel sorry for both of you." Luke said: "Are you threatening us?" Sir Whitfield seemed genuinely startled, and said: "No, no, my dear boy, it has nothing to do with my feelings! Bridget, when I was lucky enough to be chosen as my wife, promised to take on some responsibility. Now she's back on it—but life never goes Turn back. A person who violates the agreement will definitely suffer retribution."

Luke clenched his fists and said: "You mean Bridget is going to have an accident? You hear me, Whitfield, there's nothing going to happen to Bridget, and neither to me! If you're thinking of that, you'd better give it up. You Be careful! I know your details very well!" "It has nothing to do with me," said Sir Whitfield. "I am only an instrument of Heaven, and whatever God orders happens, happens." "I know you believe that," said Luke. "That's what it is! Anyone who opposes me will be punished, and you and Bridget will be no exception."

Luke said: "You are wrong on this point. No matter how long a person has been lucky, he will always encounter bad luck in the end. You are almost done now." Sir Whitfield said mildly: "My dear young man, you probably don't know who you're talking to! Nothing can hurt me!" "Really? We'll see. You'd better watch what you do, Whitfield." Sir Whitfield waved his hand, and his voice changed. "I'm already patient, don't force me to lose patience, get out of here." "I'll go right away," Luke said. "I really want to fly out. Don't forget, I warned you."

He turned and walked quickly out of the room, and went upstairs to find her in Bridget's room, directing the maid to pack her clothes.Luke asked: "Are you ready?" "Ten minutes more." Because the maid was there, it was inconvenient for her to speak out, so she looked at Luke questioningly. Luke nodded slightly. Then he went to his room and threw the clothes hastily into the suitcase. When he returned to Bridget's room ten minutes later, she was packed and ready to go.He said: "Can I go?" "I'm all set." As they went downstairs the butler was going upstairs when he said to Bridget:

"Miss Waynflete came to see you, miss." "Miss Waynflete? Where?" "In the living room with Jazz." Bridget went straight to the living room, followed by Luke. Sir Whitfield stood by the window talking to Miss Waynflete.In his hand was a knife—a long, thin knife. "The handwork is really exquisite," he said, "one of my subordinates brought it back to me from Morocco, where he worked as a special correspondent. Of course, it was made by the Ruifu people in Morocco." He touched it with his fingers fondly. Touching the blade, he said, "Zhenli!"

Miss Waynflete said sharply: "Put it down, Gordon, for heaven's sake, put it down!" He smiled slightly, put the knife and other weapons on the table together, and said softly: "I like the feeling of petting it." Miss Waynflete, losing her usual composure and looking tense and pale, said: "Oh, here you are, Bridget dear." Sir Whitfield said with a smile: "Yes, Bridget is here. Take a good look at her, Horia, she doesn't have much time with us." Miss Waynflete asked sharply: "What do you mean?" "Mean? I mean she's going to London, don't I? That's all I mean." He looked at them, and said: "I have news for you, Honaria. Bridget is not going to marry me. She prefers this Fitzwilliam! Life is a strange thing. Now, talk to yourselves." He jingled the coins in his pocket as he came out of the room. "Oh, dear!" said Miss Waynflete, "oh, dear!" There was extreme disappointment in her voice, and Bridget looked up at her in a little surprise, and said uneasily: "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry! He's mad--very mad! Oh, my God, it's terrible! What are we going to do?" Bridget said: "What to do? What are you talking about?" Miss Waynflete looked at them both reproachfully, and said: "You really shouldn't have told him!" Bridget said: "Joke! Otherwise, what should we do?" "At least you can't tell him now, you should tell him after you leave." Bridget said: "Everyone's opinion is different. I think the sooner the unpleasant matter is resolved, the better." "Oh dear, if it's just that—" She stopped and asked Luke with her eyes. Luke shook his head and said softly, "Not yet." Miss Waynflete murmured, "I see." Bridget said a little unhappily, "You have something special to ask me, Miss Waynflete." "Oh, yes, to be honest, I've come to invite you over to my house because I thought - er - you might not feel comfortable living here, and you might need a few days to - er - think about you the plan of." "Thank you, Miss Waynflete, you are so thoughtful." "You know, you'll be safe with me—" Bridget interrupted her. "Safety?" Miss Waynflete blushed a little, and immediately changed her words: "Oh, I mean—comfortable, you will be very comfortable with me. Of course, my place is not so luxurious, but there is hot water, and my little servant Emily cooks well." "Oh, I'm sure all is well with you, Miss Waynflete," said Bridget copiously. "But it would be better if you could go to the city." Bridget said slowly: "It's not very convenient. My aunt went to the flower show early this morning. I haven't had a chance to explain it to her. But I will leave a note to tell her." "You want to live alone?" "Yeah, no one's here, but I can go out to eat." "You live there alone? Oh, God, if I wouldn't do that. Don't stay there alone." "Nobody's going to eat me," said Bridget impatiently." And my aunt will be back tomorrow." Miss Waynflete shook her head worriedly. Luke said: "It's better to stay in a hotel." Bridget turned sharply to look at him. "Why? What's the matter with you? It's like treating me like an imbecile." "No, no, dear," argued Miss Waynflete. "We just want you to be careful, nothing else." "But why? What happened?" "Listen, Bridget," said Luke. "I'll tell you, but not here. Get in the car with me, and we'll go somewhere quieter." He looked at Miss Waynflete. "Can we be at the house in an hour or so? I have something to tell you." "No problem, I'll wait for you at home." Luke grabbed Bridget's arm, nodded his thanks to Miss Waynflete, and said to Bridget, "I'll get the luggage later, let's go." He led her out of the room, across the hall, to the front door, and opened the car door for Bridget. After Bridget got into the car, Luke started the engine and drove quickly.After leaving the big iron gate of Jazz's house, Luke sighed easily and said: "Thank God I got you out of that place safely!" "Are you crazy? Luke, why are you so mysterious, saying 'I can't tell you now'?" Luke said seriously: "Well, you know, when you're in a man's house, it's really hard to say he's a murderer."