Suddenly the Countess moved her head and looked towards the door. A light footstep sounded without; she moistened her lips and her hands tightened on the chair, then, as my lord softly entered, she turned her face away again.
"I was waiting for you," she said, as he closed the door. "I could stay no longer at the masquerade. I found this letter when I reached home, and I thought I would wait up and speak to you."
The Earl wore his domino and carried his mask.
"I saw a light in here," he answered. "Why must you speak to me to-night? It is late."
There was no expression on her painted face.
"We do not see each other often, do we, my lord? And to-night I am in the mood——"
He flung cloak and vizard on to a chair.
"For what?" he asked.
She looked at him for the first time, and sat up, shrugging her shoulders.