'In regard to--this letter?'
'Yes.'
'But what do you know about this letter?'
'Too much, I am afraid,' the Waldgrave answered; and I am bound to say that, putting aside the extraordinary character of his interference, he bore himself well. I could detect nothing of wildness or delusion in his manner. His face glowed, and he threw back his head with a hint of defiance; but he seemed sane. 'Too much,' he continued rapidly, before the Count could stop him; 'and, before the matter goes farther, I will have my say.'
The Count stared at him. 'By what right?' he said at last.
'As the Countess Rotha's nearest kinsman,' the Waldgrave answered.
'Indeed?' I could see that the Count was hard put to it to keep his temper; that the old lion in him was stirring, and would soon have way. But for the moment he controlled himself. 'Say on,' he cried.
'I will, in a few words,' the Waldgrave answered. 'And what I have to say amounts to this: I have become aware--no matter how--of the bargain you have made, Count Leuchtenstein, and I will not have it.'
'The bargain!' the Count ejaculated; 'you will not have it!'
'The bargain; and I will not have it!' the Waldgrave rejoined.