Piers nodded, as one verifying a piece of information. His next question came with hauteur and studied indifference.
"Lady Evesham heard, you say? Did she pay any attention to these maudlin revelations?"
"She fainted," said Tudor shortly.
"Oh? And what happened then?"
It was maddeningly cold-blooded; but it was the mask that spoke. Tudor recognized that.
"I brought her round," he made answer. "No one else was present. She begged me to let her go home alone. I did so."
"She also asked you to make full explanation to me?" came in measured tones from Piers.
"She did." Tudor paused a moment as though he found some difficulty in forming his next words. But he went on almost at once with resolution. "She said to me at parting: 'I must be alone. I must think. Beg Piers to understand! Beg him not to see me again to-day! I will talk to him in the morning!' I promised to deliver the message exactly as she gave it."
"Thank you," said Piers. He turned with the words, moved away to the window, and looked forth at the now deserted marquee.
Tudor stood mutely waiting; he felt as if it had been laid upon him to wait.