"You are far enough from ruin," answered the maid calmly. "Mr. Hilton stands firm enough, and my lord's position is not so easily overturned."
The Countess rose with sudden energy.
"Get to bed, Honoria, I am tired to-night, and meant not what I said," but her passionate face and heated eyes belied her words.
"Will you not come also, my lady?"
"In a while, yes."
The maid had the policy sometimes to submit to the mistress she ruled; with the faintest of sneering smiles she left the room.
With quick steps the Countess hurried across the floor, picked up her father's letter and dashed out the candle.
Through the heavy curtains fell the first glimmer of the London dawn, but where my lady stood all was dark; she tore the letter to shreds, breathing heavily.
"His name," she muttered to herself; "my name also. An insignificant thing like me, my lord, might make you the laughing stock of the town."