A faint, sad smile touched her lips.
"Some one has said something more against me," she said, "and you want to defend me. Don't take the trouble. It is not worth while."
"The place is full of lies about you," he answered, suddenly and fiercely. "And I am going to defend you. No one else can. They are lies that concern me as well as you."
"Will you tell me what they are?" she asked.
He saw there was no room for hesitation, and told her what the facts were. As he spoke he felt that they did not improve in the relation, and he saw the blood rise to her cheeks, and a light grow in her eyes. When he had finished the light was a brilliant spark of fire.
"It is a charming story," she said.
"We will show them what sort of a story it is," he answered, "to-morrow night!"
"You are very good to me," she said.
Suddenly she put her hand to her side.
"Ah!" she exclaimed, "it seems very strange that they should be saying these things of Bertha Amory."