"Take me away," she held out her hands to Marius, "or kill me! This woman does not understand."
He looked at her, but shrank, and she fell suddenly to her knees. Susannah sprang forward and caught her up. There was a cry, an exclamation among them, and the door was flung open on Rose Lyndwood.
His eyes travelled from one to another. He took off his hat.
"Ah, you also, Susannah!" he said, and closed the door behind him.
He was splendidly dressed in black velvet and satin. His magnificence and superb looks put the chamber to shame. He came across the room gaily, with his head high, and Miss Chressham, at least, saw he was in a passion of wrath and scorn that uplifted him above them all.
Marius waited. Stealthily the Countess drew away from him.
"Rose," began Susannah feebly; but the bare truth was so obviously abroad among them, the facts lay so clearly before them, that all attempts to soften or excuse were futile. She could not get the foolish words across her lips.
My lord dropped the rich cloak he carried on to a chair.
"I did not go to the Trefusis ball," he said, addressing his brother, "but to my lady's house, and there I learnt enough."
"Of what you already suspected?" asked Marius, in a dreary way.