Presently I spoke.
‘Well, Mademoiselle,’ I said, ‘where are your grooms?’
She gave me one look, her eyes blazing with anger, her face like hate itself; and after that I said no more, but left her in peace, and contented myself with walking at her shoulder until we came to the end of the village, where the track to the great house plunged into the wood. There she stopped, and turned on me like a wild creature at bay.
‘What do you want?’ she cried hoarsely, breathing as if she had been running.
‘To see you safe to the house,’ I answered coolly. ‘Alone you might be insulted.’
‘And if I will not?’ she retorted.
‘The choice does not lie with you, Mademoiselle,’ I answered sternly, ‘You will go to the house with me, and on the way you will give me an interview—late as it is; but not here. Here we are not private enough. We may be interrupted at any moment, and I wish to speak to you at length.’
‘At length?’ she muttered.
‘Yes, Mademoiselle.’
I saw her shiver. ‘What if I will not?’ she said again.