But I had at last reduced the position to this: Years ago
Roscoe had cared for her and she had not cared for him. Angered or
indignant at her treatment of him, Roscoe's affections declined
unworthily elsewhere. Then came a catastrophe of some kind, in which Alo
(whoever she was) suffered. The secret of this catastrophe Mrs. Falchion,
as I believe, held. There was a parting, a lapse of years, and then the
meeting on the 'Fulvia': with it, partial restoration of Mrs. Falchion's
influence, then its decline, and then a complete change of position. It
was now Mrs. Falchion that cared, and Roscoe that shunned. It perplexed
me that there seemed to be behind Mrs. Falchion's present regard for
Roscoe some weird expression of vengeance, as though somehow she had been
wronged, and it was her duty to punish. In no other way was the position
definable. That Roscoe would never marry her was certain to my mind. That
he could not marry her now was also certain--to me; I had the means to
prevent it. That she wished to marry him I was not sure, though she
undoubtedly cared for him. Remained, therefore, the supposition that if
he cared for her she would do him no harm, as to his position.
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