"I am aware of that, my lord," said Jasper, his small eyes glittering with hate and malice, and smoldering fury. The sight of the handsome face, the knowledge that Stella loved this man and hated him, Jasper, maddened and tortured him, even in his hour of triumph. "I am aware of that, Lord Leycester; but as your questions evidently distress and embarrass Miss Etheridge, I take upon myself to answer for her." Leycester smiled as if at some strange conceit. "You do indeed take upon yourself," he retorted, with great scorn. "Perhaps you will kindly remain silent." Jasper's face whitened and winced. "You are in my apartment, Lord Leycester." "I regret to admit it. I more deeply regret that this lady should be here. I await her explanation." "And what if I say she will not gratify your curiosity?" said Jasper, with a malignant smile. "What will happen, do you mean?" asked Leycester, curtly. "Well, I shall probably throw you out of the window." Stella uttered a low cry and laid her hand upon his arm; she knew him so well, and had no difficulty in reading the sudden lightning in the dark eyes, and the resolute tightening of the lips. She knew that it was no idle threat, and that a word more from Jasper of the same kind would rouse the fierce, impetuous anger for which Leycester was notorious. In a moment his anger disappeared. "I beg your pardon," he murmured, with a loving glance, "I was forgetting myself. I will remember that you are here." "Now, sir," and he turned to Jasper, "you appear anxious to offer some explanation. Be as brief and as quick as you can, please," he added curtly. Jasper winced at the tone of command. "I wished to spare Miss Etheridge," he said. "I have only one desire, and that is to insure her comfort and happiness." "You are very good," said Leycester, with contemptuous impatience. "But if that is all you have to say we will rid you of our presence, which cannot be welcome. I would rather hear an account of these extraordinary proceedings from this lady's lips, at first, at any rate; afterwards I may trouble you," and his eyes darkened ominously. Then he went up to Stella, and his voice dropped to a low whisper. "Come, Stella. You shall tell me what this all means," and he offered her his arm. But Stella shrank back, with a piteous look in her eyes. "I cannot go with you," she murmured, as if each word cost her an effort. "Do not ask me!" "Cannot!" he said, still in the same low voice. "Stella! Why not?" "I--I cannot tell you! Do not ask me!" was her prayer. "Go now--go and leave me!" Lord Leycester looked from her to Frank, who shook his head and glared at Jasper. "I don't understand it, Lord Leycester; it is no use looking to me. I have done as you asked me--at least as far as I was able until I was prevented. We got out at Vauxhall as you wished us to do----"