She was immediately followed thither by Lydia Hutchinson.
"I do not require your attendance," said Adeline, with a visible shudder, as the lady's-maid closed the door behind her.
"I care not for your wishes or aversions," returned Lydia. "Appearances compel me to wait upon you—or to have the semblance of waiting upon you;—and, moreover, I have something important to communicate. Oh! I feel such pleasure in being the bearer of good news to you!"
"What new torture have you in store for me, horrible woman?" cried Lady Ravensworth, affrighted by the malignant bitterness with which these last words were uttered.
"Know you to whom your princely mansion has just afforded its hospitality?" demanded Lydia.
"To a wounded duellist and his friends," replied Adeline. "Is this circumstance to be in any way rendered available to your fearful purposes of torture in respect to me?"
"And that wounded duellist and one of his companions are well known to you," said Lydia, impressively.
"Known to me!" ejaculated Adeline, who felt convinced that some fresh cause of anguish to herself lurked in the mysterious language of her torturess.
"Oh! yes—known too well to yourself and to me also!" said Lydia, as if shuddering with concentrated rage.
"Ah! my God—it would require but that to drive me to desperation!" exclaimed Adeline, a terrible suspicion darting across her mind.