"What, pray?"
"What you owe me. I am entitled to claim my reward. You must repay me some day."
"By marrying you?"
Her voice, as usual, began to tremble when she found herself in antagonism with this man.
"If that be the price I ask. Why not? We ought to be happy together. We have so much in common, so many secrets—"
"Enough of this!" she said shortly, but not bravely.
"And to be Lady Lydstone's husband would give me a certain status—a sufficient income. I could help you to educate the boy, whom, by-the-way, I have never seen. Yes; the notion pleases me. I will be your second—I beg your pardon, your third husband, probably your last."
"I must beg of you, Hippolyte, to be careful; I hear some one coming."
It was the Swiss butler, who entered rather timidly to say a gentleman had called on important business.
"What business? Surely you have not admitted him? If so, you shall leave my service. You know it is contrary to my express orders."