"I met him yesterday in your mother's house, my lord, and heard of his intent to come here to-day; therefore I am at home."
With that she swept a curtsey and left them alone, save for that nameless discontent and coldness breathing like another presence between them.
"The Countess is seldom at my mother's house," said Rose, as the door closed on her; "strange you should have met there."
Marius did not answer; the level beams of the sun just sinking behind the houses on the other side of the square struck brilliantly on his bright uniform and flushed face.
"You have decided to go to Paris?" asked my lord.
"No," answered Marius in a constrained way, "I have decided to remain in London, sir."
"I think you are wrong," said the Earl. "There are few chances in London; but it is for you to choose your own way."
He seated himself on the couch, and Marius looked at him earnestly; my lord glanced up and their eyes met.
"Do you wish an appointment about the Court?" asked the Earl; his handsome eyes were weary and his face pallid in contrast with his bright unpowdered hair. Marius could not understand what had happened to make them such strangers, nor how in a year they could have drifted so far apart; a sensation of utter depression came over him.
"What is the matter with you, Marius?" asked Rose Lyndwood with a slight note of challenge in his voice.