The Earl crossed to the door; his eyes flashed to Miss Chressham.
"Are you coming with us, madam?"
She shook her head dumbly.
My lord lifted his shoulders.
"Then au revoir! Maybe I shall see you again."
The Countess arranged her hat and joined her husband. Her demeanour was quiet, yet resolute, as if she saw what to do and was satisfied. Susannah, even through her own agony, wondered at this sudden taming and resignation in her; she found something more deadly and horrible than open passion and despair in the way in which the Countess averted her face as she passed her husband, he holding the door open for her, and following her slight figure with his unforgiving eyes, as she went out on to the stairs.
Still Marius did not speak.
"We are of an unfortunate house," said Rose Lyndwood, smiling at his brother. Then he followed his wife and closed the door after him.
Susannah lifted her hands to her forehead; it seemed to her that she dragged them painfully through air grown unsupportably heavy.
"What is this duel?" she asked, with stiff lips.