The earl turned to him, but looked above his head.
"Excuse me," he said, "I have no desire to hear any explanation of your conduct—it would be impossible for you to defend it. But, having received Miss Lorton's reply to my question, I have the right to ask you to quit my house—and I do so!"
Sir Archie went up to Nell and looked at her straight in the face.
"Do you—do you wish me to remain silent?" he said hoarsely. "Think before you speak! Do you?"
Nell looked up instantly.
"Yes!" she replied, in a low voice. "If you will go—forever!"
Sir Archie gazed at her as if he had suddenly become unconscious of the earl's presence.
"My God!" he breathed. "You—you are treatin' me better than I deserve. Yes, I am goin'," he said, turning fiercely to the earl, who had made a slight movement of impatience. "But I want to say this. I want"—he moistened his lips, as if speech were difficult—"to tell you—and—and her—that—that what has taken place will never be spoken of by me while I live. I am goin'—abroad. I shall not return for some time."
The earl made a gesture of indifference.
"Your movements can be of no interest to me," he said, "and I trust that they may be of as little importance to this unhappy girl, now that she knows the character of the man whom she was about to trust."