She raised her eyes, and her lips moved.
"Yes," she said.
He looked as if he could not believe the evidence of his senses. The perspiration broke out on his forehead, and his lips trembled, but he made an effort to control himself, and succeeded.
"Is what this man says true, Stella?"
"I—I cannot go with you," she trembled, with downcast eyes.
Leycester looked round the room as if he suspected he must be dreaming.
"What does it mean?" he murmured. "Stella;" and now he addressed her as if he were oblivious of the presence of others. "Stella, I implore, I command you to tell me. Consider what my position is. I—who have been expecting you as—as you know well—find you here, and here you, with your own lips, tell me that all is altered between us; so suddenly, so unreasonably."
"It must be so," she breathed. "If you would only go and leave me!"
He put his hand on the back of a chair to steady himself, and the chair shook.
Jasper stood gloating over his emotion.