At this I could readily believe there was no enviable time ahead of the steward and he must have thought so, too, for with a sudden effort he shook off the slackened grasp of the troopers on either side and stepped quickly forward.
“My lady,” he cried, “what could I do? They would have hanged me!” and he pointed to his neck, round which was a purple ring where the cord had cut into the flesh, plain to be seen by the dullest eyes, and the meaning of which could not be mistaken.
For a moment my lady gazed; then she drew herself to her full height and faced us, one hand pressed against her bosom, as if to restrain the passion that caused her figure to tremble and flashed from the depths of her wondrous eyes.
“And was this, sir,” she cried, “this in your orders—that you should not only break into my house, but should also vent your savage cruelty upon my inoffensive servants?”
Again I stood speechless before her, for anger served only to increase her loveliness.
“Inoffensive? A damned rebel!” growled the sergeant.
I silenced him with a look and turned once more to the woman before me.
“Pooh! madam,” I said coolly, for her words nettled me, “the man is not seriously hurt, and my duty must be my excuse.”
“Your duty!” she cried with intense scorn. “You had not dared this outrage had my brother, the earl, been present!”
“But he is not, madam,” I answered with a faint sneer. “I believe I am correct in saying that he is not even in England!”