"Good Heavens, Dudley!" exclaimed she, in a voice of terror, "what has happened?" "Everything!" said he; "utter ruin! The whole crew of creditors are in full chase after me, and in a few hours we shall be stripped of all we possess." She drew a long full breath as she listened; and had her husband been in a mood to mark it, he might have seen how lightly his terrible tidings affected her. "I must fly! Taperton--he's in the carriage below--says France, at least for some weeks, till we can make some compromise or other; but I have one debt that must be acquitted before I leave." There was a terrible significance in the words, and she was sick to the heart as she asked, "What, and to whom?" "Radchoffsky!" cried he, savagely; "that scoundrel whom I trusted like a brother!" Lady Broughton fell back, and for a moment her motionless limbs and pallid features seemed like fainting; but with a tremendous effort rallying herself, she said, "Go on!" "He betrayed me,--told every circumstance of my book! And the mare I had backed for more than thirty thousand is dying this instant; so that I am not only ruined, but dishonored!" She sat with wide staring eyes and half-open lips while he spoke, nor did she seem, in the fearful confusion of her fear, to understand fully all he said. "Have I not spoken plainly?" said he, angrily. "Don't you comprehend me when I say that to-morrow I shall be branded as a defaulter at the settling? But enough of this. Tell Millar to get a portmanteau ready for me. I 'll start this evening; the interval is short enough for all I have to do." As he spoke, he hastened to his bedroom, and, providing himself with a case containing his duelling-pistols, he hurried downstairs, ordering the postilion to drive to the Russian Embassy. The carriage was scarce driven from the door when Lady Broughton, taking a key from her pocket, opened a small door which led from the drawing-room into her dressing-room, from which the count walked forth,--his calm features unruffled and easy as though no emotion had ever stirred them. "You heard what Broughton said?" whispered she, in an accent of faltering agitation. "Oui, _parbleu_, every word of it!" replied he, laughing gently. "The people of the house might almost have heard him." "And is it true?" asked she, while a cold sickness crept over her, and her mouth was shaken convulsively. "I believe so," said he, calmly. "Oh, Alexis, do not say so!" cried she, in an agony of grief; "or, least of all, in such a voice as that." He shrugged his shoulders; and then, after a moment's pause, said, "I confess myself quite unprepared for this show of affection, madame--" "Not so, Alexis. It is for _you_ I am concerned; for your honor as a gentleman; for your fair fame among men--" "Pardon, madame, if I interrupt you; but the defence of my honor must be left to myself--" "If I had but thought this of you--"