“I shall be ready to marry Doris this evening,” said Percy Levant, holding Doris’ hand. “It rests with her to decide, dear Lady Despard,” and he crossed the room and bent over her appealingly. “When you consented to come here with her this afternoon, you did so knowing that I should have to keep you in ignorance of my motives; do you think I am not grateful for your confidence in me? Do you think I would inflict unnecessary pain on dear Doris?”
“N-o—I don’t!” she said, with languid irritability; “I’m quite ready to admit that you love her to distraction, but it certainly is enough to drive one out of one’s senses, these mysterious proceedings of yours; and Doris tells me nothing lately,” she added.
Doris raised her lovely eyes pleadingly, but remained silent.
“Don’t blame her,” said Percy Levant, gravely. “She, too, is in ignorance of this, which I am about to do, and my motives! She trusts me; will not you, Lady Despard?”
“Well, I suppose I must,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “But why have we come here? My acquaintance with the marquis is too slight to excuse this intrusion.”
“If it is an intrusion, that which will result from it will excuse it,” he said. “The fact is,” and he smiled rather sadly, “I have arranged a little comedy for your ladyship’s amusement! Comedy and tragedy, alas, are very thinly divided; there is but a step between them. All I ask of you is that you will remain quiet and silent, whatever you may hear; and I intend you to hear all. Doris I can rely on,” and he laid his hand upon her arm with a reverent, gentle touch.
“Oh, I’m not hysterical or nervous,” said Lady Despard. “I shan’t shriek, however sensational your conjuring trick—or whatever it is—may be. Come and sit beside me, dear, will you! and, Percy, remember, if the marquis should hear of our visit here, and want to know why on earth we came, I shall refer him to you.”
“I abide by that,” he said, gravely. “And now I am going to leave you——” he added, as they heard the valet speaking to some one in the hall. “Doris,” and he bent over her, “you will be patient and brave?”
She looked at him trustingly.
“I will be silent, at least. I can promise that,” she said, in a low voice.