“I wish to God that I could,” he cried passionately. “Don’t you realize that I love Mildred body and soul? And that I long for her in a way that you cannot understand? Do you think that it was an easy matter to put her deliberately out of my life? Ethel, it is killing me—this necessity—and yet I dare not do otherwise. You are a good little soul to come to me in this way, and I won’t forget it. Ethel, dear, I, too, want your sympathy,” he wound up brokenly.
She could see that he was suffering acutely, and immediately all her sympathy was aroused. She placed her hand on his shoulder, and bending her head, touched his forehead with her lips. Gaunt had revealed himself in a way that had surprised her greatly, for it was impossible to believe that he was not in deadly earnest, and her heart sank. The secret, whatever it might be, was evidently not a thing that could be swept aside easily; it was not a stupid misunderstanding, caused by stiff-necked pride, but something serious.
“John, I am sorry, and won’t worry you any more, but I should like you to know that I am your friend, and that you can count on me,” she said with simple earnestness.
There was a knock at the door and a footman entered.
“The Baron de Croiseuil wishes to see you, sir, and he asked me to say that his business was of the utmost importance. Her ladyship instructed me that she was ‘not at home’ should the Baron call, but as you had given me no orders, sir, I thought it better to announce the Baron.”
“You did quite right, James. I will see him here,” Gaunt answered, but Lady Ethel intervened quickly.
“Don’t see him, John,” she cried appealingly.
Gaunt looked at her curiously, and then glanced at the footman who still waited.
CHAPTER XXII
The Baron de Croiseuil had not anticipated that Gaunt would give in to his threats, but he waited for the time to expire before taking any further steps. In the afternoon Sherren came round to the hotel to receive his instructions, and, in consequence, the article duly appeared in the Daily Comet.