Fortunately,
Madame Midas saw his intention, and managed to wrench herself free,
so the blow aimed at her only slightly touched her, otherwise it
would have killed her.
As it was, however, she fell forward half stunned, and Villiers,
hurriedly dropping his stick, bent down and seized the box which he
felt under his feet and intuitively guessed contained the nugget.
With a cry of triumph he hurled it out on to the road, and sprang
out after it; but the cry woke his wife from the semi-stupor into
which she had fallen.
Her head felt dizzy and heavy from the blow, but still she had her
senses about her, and the moon bursting out from behind a cloud,
rendered the night as clear as day.
Villiers had picked up the box, and was standing on the edge of the
bank, just about to leave. The unhappy woman recognised her husband,
and uttered a cry.
'You! you!' she shrieked, wildly, 'coward! dastard! Give me back
that nugget!' leaning out of the trap in her eagerness.
'I'll see you damned first,' retorted Villiers, who, now that he was
recognised, was utterly reckless as to the result. 'We're quits now,
my lady,' and he turned to go.
Maddened with anger and disgust, his wife snatched up the stick he
had dropped, and struck him on the head as he took a step forward.
With a stifled cry he staggered and fell over the embankment, still
clutching the box in his arms.
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