He half startled and half relieved her by his abrupt answer.
"It was concerning that paragraph in the Gazette you wished to see Rose, was it not?"
"How did you imagine it?" she queried faintly.
"The Countess informed me."
This remark brought Miss Chressham to glance at him closely and to notice that he was flushed and frowning, obviously ill at ease and striving for control.
"The Countess informed you!" she echoed.
He beat his foot impatiently on the floor of the coach.
"She had seen it, of course. She concluded you would wish to prevent a meeting between Rose and Sir Francis." He checked himself, then added in a lower tone, "She has no doubt it is true."
Miss Chressham coloured in sheer anger.