The thing had got to be settled, one way or the other.
I thought I'd take a gun and frighten the fellow, frighten them both.
I went down right away to the cottage.
The servants never knew I had come back to the house at all.
I slipped out into the garden and through the woods.
I saw the light in the cottage window, and I went straight in.
To my surprise Rebecca was alone.
She was lying on the divan with an ashtray full of cigarette stubs beside her.
She looked ill, queer.
'I began at once about Favell and she listened to me without a word.
"We've lived this life of degradation long enough, you and I," I said.
"This is the end, do you understand?
What you do in London does not concern me.
You can live with Favell there, or with anyone you like.
But not here.
Not at Manderley."
'She said nothing for a moment.
She stared at me, and then she smiled.
"Suppose it suits me better to live here, what then?" she said.
' "You know the conditions," I said.
"I've kept my part of our dirty, damnable bargain, haven't I?
But you've cheated.
You think you can treat my house and my home like your own sink in London.
I've stood enough, but my God, Rebecca, this is your last chance."
'I remember she squashed out her cigarette in the tub by the divan, and then she got up, and stretched herself, her arms above her head.
' "You're right, Max," she said.
"It's time I turned over a new leaf."
'She looked very pale, very thin.
She began walking up and down the room, her hands in the pockets of her trousers.
She looked like a boy in her sailing kit, a boy with a face like a Botticelli angel.
' "Have you ever thought", she said, "how damned hard it would be for you to make a case against me?
In a court of law, I mean.
If you wanted to divorce me.
Do you realise that you've never had one shred of proof against me, from the very first?
All your friends, even the servants, believe our marriage to be a success."
' "What about Frank?" I said.
"What about Beatrice?"
'She threw back her head and laughed.
"What sort of a story could Frank tell against mine?" she said.
"Don't you know me well enough for that?
As for Beatrice, wouldn't it be the easiest thing in the world for her to stand in a witness-box as the ordinary jealous woman whose husband once lost his head and made a fool of himself?
Oh, no, Max, you'd have a hell of a time trying to prove anything against me."
'She stood watching me, rocking on her heels, her hands in her pockets and a smile on her face.
"Do you realise that I could get Danny, as my personal maid, to swear anything I asked her to swear, in a court of law?
And that the rest of the servants, in blind ignorance, would follow her example and swear too?
They think we live together at Manderley as husband and wife, don't they?
And so does everyone, your friends, all our little world.
Well, how are you going to prove that we don't?"
'She sat down on the edge of the table, swinging her legs, watching me.
' "Haven't we acted the parts of a loving husband and wife rather too well?' ' she said.