'You say that this was your husband?'
'Yes, miss; he was; and is.'
'Then, my dear, in that case you're the Marchioness of Twickenham.'
'Miss! What--what's that you say?'
'I say that you're the Marchioness of Twickenham, since it's certain your husband was the Marquis; and I say also that your son, reigning in his stead, is the Marquis of Twickenham now.'
'I--I don't understand.'
My heart was beating against my ribs--oh, dear!
'Your husband's life was a strange one. One day I'll tell you as much of it as you care to know. But its strangeness did not alter the fact that he was the Marquis of Twickenham; and, indeed, now that I have seen you, I am beginning to understand that at least the latter part of it was not so strange as I imagined.'
'You--you say my James is--the Marquis of Twickenham?'
'He was.'