"Who are you?"
"I am a gentleman," he replied, in a boastful tone.
His manner gave the lie to his assertion, and Mrs. Lenoir, with her fine instinct, knew that the man was a braggart. "Yes, yes--but your name?"
"Never mind my name--it won't enlighten you. Now, are you coming?"
"No," said Mrs. Lenoir; "leave me."
"What will you do if I take you at your word?" he asked brutally.
"I will wait here--I will creep on till I find her--till I see again the face I saw a little while ago, bending over me. Heaven will give me strength--Heaven will give me strength!"
"In which case," thought Ned, "I shall get myself into hot water with the Duchess. That will never do."
He adopted a more conciliatory tone.
"You foolish creature! You've been dreaming, and you'll bring trouble on yourself."