He thrust her away from him, for in her passion she had stepped so close that her distorted face almost touched his shoulder, and Marius snatched his weapon from the scabbard.
Miss Chressham stepped between the sword-points.
"Marius," she whispered, "do not fight."
Her fingers touched his sleeve for a second, and she looked into his eyes.
"Stand back, madam!" cried my lord fiercely, but Marius answered her gaze.
"Have pity!" she murmured, and she glanced past him at the Earl.
"Oh!" muttered Marius. His rapier slipped from his fingers and rattled on the polished boards; he staggered back against the mantelshelf, staring at Susannah.
"Do not fight!" she stammered, and laid her finger on her white lips.
That was all, but Marius understood.
"Take up your sword!" commanded my lord.