Lord Vincent continued to question his valet.
"Does Lady Vincent makes a practice of inviting you to her apartments?"
"Y-y-yes, my lord!"
"How often?"
"Wh-wh-whenever your lordship's abscence seems to make it safe."
"Then I am to understand that you are a favored suitor of Lady
Vincent's?"
"Yes, yes, my lord! Oh, my lord, I know I have done very wrong. I know I—"
"Do you know that you deserve death, sir?" demanded the viscount, in a voice of thunder.
"Oh, my lord, mercy! mercy! I know I am a great sinner! I could kill myself for it, if it wasn't for fear of losing my soul! All I can do now is to repent and confess! I do repent from the bottom of my heart; and I will confess everything! Yes, I will tell your lordship all about it and throw myself on your lordship's mercy! cried this remorseless villain.
"Enough! I wish to hear no more from you just at present. Your confession would be scarcely fir for the ears of these ladies. your testimony must be reserved for a future occasion," said the viscont. And then turning to Claudia with the coolest and most insulting hauteur, he said: