“No. What is it? But don’t answer, for John may not wish me to know,” she added quickly.
For the moment Gaunt was tempted to seize this loophole and escape, but only for a moment. He could still feel her hand resting on his arm, so very gently he disengaged it.
“You have the right to know, but you should have heard it from me, coward that I am,” he muttered hoarsely.
And he blamed himself bitterly for his weakness. What a fool he had been in not following Edward Drake’s advice.
His words drove the color from Lady Mildred’s face, for she realized that she was about to hear something that might affect the happiness which these last few days had been well-nigh perfect. And instinctively she drew closer to the man whom she had grown to love so passionately.
“I have just come from the Baron de Croiseuil, and he tells me that a warrant is about to be issued for your arrest,” the Earl announced bluntly.
The sight of his sister’s evident love had driven away every feeling of compassion, and he wished to hurt this stern-faced man. But in his desire, Lady Mildred had been forgotten, and she uttered a cry that wrung his heart with its pain.
“What does it mean, John? Why should they wish to arrest you? What have you done?” she cried breathlessly, and her bosom rose and fell quickly.
Gaunt took her hand in his and there was a great pity in his eyes.
“Mildred, I killed a man, and——”