"Will you not speak to me, Marius?"
With his eyes on the ground he answered her.
"What do you think we can do?"
"Take me away," said the Countess, breathing deeply. "Somewhere—there is the place in Genoa, you must know?" She gave a wild little laugh. "I suppose we have no money, but there is only ruin here; my lord has beggared me, my father is a ruined man; I brought some of my jewels with me; take me away, Marius."
He raised the grey eyes that were so like the Earl's.
"You cannot know what you say, for if you do, honour hath no meaning."
Her face flushed with the feverish blood his words roused to action.
"Maybe it hath a different meaning to you and me. I think so." She rose and caught hold of the back of the chair. "Perhaps you despise me, but you have no right."
She coughed, stifled it, and went on.
"You speak from your code, but I at least have this to my credit—I have been very faithful."