I know I was excited, and it is very likely that I was speaking in a louder voice than I was altogether aware of, but her answer gave me a new surprise.
“I am not in the least afraid of you, Captain Fyffe; my servants are in the house, and I can ring for them at any minute.”
This cooled me, even in the middle of my exasperation and the galling sense of impotence I felt.
“I beg your pardon, Lady Rollinson. I am bewildered by your manner. I am laboring under an accusation of a very dreadful sort, and you refuse to listen to me, though I can prove my innocence quite easily.”
“Why,” she exclaimed, “I haven't even told the man what the accusation is! But in spite of his innocence he knows all about it.”
“I know all about it,” I retorted, “because it has been brought against me before, and withdrawn by the very woman who brings it now. Will you listen to me, Lady Rollinson?”
“I will not willingly listen to another word.”
“Where is Violet?” I asked.
“That I shall not tell you,” she answered. “I have made up my mind I shall do nothing until the arrival of the count. When he comes back, if ever he does, poor man, the responsibility will be off my shoulders. Until then, I shall take very good care that you have nothing to do with Violet.”
This seemed to me to be carrying things with far too high a hand, and there, at least, I thought I had a right to speak with some show of authority.