"I cannot listen to this, madam," he interrupted in an agitated voice, but she would not be stopped.
"It is not long ago that you were kissing my shadow, Marius—are we now such strangers that I must conceal from you that my life is utter misery?"
"Indeed it can be no matter of mine," he answered, very pale.
The Countess clasped the edge of the chimney-piece.
"It is very much a matter of yours. My lord, ye say, does his duty by you; but what of me? Do you dare to have no pity? The money that gave you your career was the price of my degradation——"
"Enough of that," he exclaimed. "I have had very little from the Earl, and mean now to be free of him altogether."
"But I," she said, "can never be free."
She was silent a second, then added with a quiet force:
"Did you know him as I have to know him you would hate him"—her voice sank—"even as I do."
Marius Lyndwood shuddered.