“What have you to say?” she asked Mr. Caryll.
“Nay, madam,” he replied, “not before these.” And he indicated the servants.
“'Tis but a pretext to have them out of the room,” said Rotherby.
Mr. Caryll laughed the notion to scorn. “If you think that—I give you my word of honor to attempt no violence, nor to depart until you shall give me leave,” said he.
Rotherby, judging Mr. Caryll by his knowledge of himself, still hesitated. But her ladyship realized, in spite of her detestation of the man, that he was not of the temper of those whose word is to be doubted. She signed to the footmen.
“Go,” she bade them. “Wait within call.”
They departed, and Mr. Caryll remained seated for all that her ladyship was standing; it was as if by that he wished to show how little he was minded to move.
Her ladyship's eye fell upon Hortensia. “Do you go, too, child,” she bade her.
Instead, Hortensia came forward. “I wish to remain, madam,” she said.
“Did I ask you what you wished?” demanded the countess.