He wavered for an instant, but, quickly recovering himself, he groaned,
"Then the marriage has taken place?"
"It has, sir."
"Then what can she want of me?" he muttered inaudibly, as he accepted the missive and broke the seal.
He read Romaine's letter to the close with no outward sign of emotion, beyond a trembling of the hands, which he was powerless to repress. Suddenly, however, he raised his eyes, and there was the fire of an invincible resolution in their depths as he demanded,
"Mrs. Morton has left Belvoir?"
"Yes, sir, more than an hour ago."
"Have you an idea where she has gone?"
"To Doctor Morton's house in the city."
"Thank you—stay; you will be faithful to your mistress and—and to me," he added gently, "and you will keep your errand a secret?"