“It would have been useless,” he answered. “I think that he knew quite well that I should give no such pledge. That is what makes me believe that the matter is serious. He is so sure of coming events that failing my joining with him he expressed himself as indifferent as to what my course of action might be. There was only one condition he made before I left—and that one I agreed to.”
She looked at him inquiringly.
“It was that I should come to you—before I went to the King.”
Their eyes met. In that single luminous moment he learned that these things came at least as no surprise to her. He seemed even to divine something of that desire which had eaten its way into her heart.
“To me!” she murmured. “Well?”
“Countess,” he said, gravely, “for myself there is but one course of action possible. I came here as the friend of Ughtred of Tyrnaus. I am bound to his cause by every tie of honour, as well as my own sympathies. Before the morning I shall have told him all that I have told you.”
Her fan fluttered idly in her fingers. She remained silent, but he had a fancy that a shadow had fallen between them.
“Domiloff sent me to you,” he continued. “What does that mean?”
She shook her head.
“The ways of Baron Domiloff,” she said, “are not easy to understand.”