"First, is there any truth in that paragraph? Secondly, what are you going to do?"
The Earl lowered his gaze to his fine hand lying idly across the paper.
"For the first, I will give you neither yes nor no, Sir Francis. For the second, how can I say yet what I shall do?"
"I am not contented with that," answered Sir Francis. "If what is stated there be true, I must know it, and you must answer for having permitted it to become public. If it be false, you and I, my lord, must track down the malice that dictated it."
Rose Lyndwood pushed his chair back.
"It is false," he said with sudden recklessness. "What should that lady be writing to me for, or I to her? Oh, be assured that it is false, Sir Francis. Do these damned scribblers ever write the truth?"
Sir Francis eyed him keenly.
"I do not take your mood, my lord. This cannot be ignored."
The Earl lifted his shoulders.
"Oh, if you like to challenge every hack in Grub Street!"