In that moment--with all the pang of forsaking an old conviction--of disowning that stronger tie, the loved embrace of an ancient and perversely championed prejudice--he declared that any price must be paid for victory. “Heaven forgive me, but, sooner than be beaten, I’ll go to law with her!” he cried. A face appeared from between two bushes--a voice spoke from the edge of the terrace. “I thought you might be interested to hear----” “Lady Norah?” “Yes, it’s me--to hear that you’ve made her cry--and very bitterly.” CHAPTER XI AN ARMISTICE Lord Lynborough walked down to the edge of the terrace; Lady Norah stood half hidden in the shrubbery. “And that, I suppose, ought to end the matter?” he asked. “I ought at once to abandon all my pretensions and to give up my path?” “I just thought you might like to know it,” said Norah. “Actually I believe I do like to know it--though what Roger would say to me about that I really can’t imagine. You’re mistaking my character, Lady Norah. I’m not the hero of this piece. There are several gentlemen from among whom you can choose one for that effective part. Lots of candidates for it! But I’m the villain. Consequently you must be prepared for my receiving your news with devilish glee.” “Well, you haven’t seen it--and I have.” “Well put!” he allowed. “How did it happen?” “Over something I said to her--something horrid.” “Well, then, why am I----?” Lynborough’s hands expostulated eloquently. “But you were the real reason, of course. She thinks you’ve turned us all against her; she says it’s so mean to get her own friends to turn against her.” “Does she now?” asked Lord Lynborough with a thoughtful smile. Norah too smiled faintly. “She says she’s not angry with us--she’s just sorry for us--because she understands----” “What?” “I mean she says she--she can imagine----” Norah’s smile grew a little more pronounced. “I’m not sure she’d like me to repeat that,” said Norah. “And of course she doesn’t know I’m here at all--and you must never tell her.” “Of course it’s all my fault. Still, as a matter of curiosity, what did you say to her?” “I said that, if she had a good case, she ought to go to law; and, if she hadn’t, she ought to stop making herself ridiculous and the rest of us uncomfortable.” “You spoke with the general assent of the company?” “I said what I thought--yes, I think they all agreed--but she took it--well, in the way I’ve told you, you know.” Lady Norah had, in the course of conversation, insensibly advanced on to the terrace. She stood there now beside Lynborough. “How do you think I’m taking it?” he asked. “Doesn’t my fortitude wring applause from you?” “Taking what?” “Exactly the same thing from my friends. They tell me to go to law if I’ve got a case--and at any rate to stop persecuting a lady. And they’ve both given me warning.” “Mr Stabb and Mr Wilbraham? They’re going away?” “So it appears. Carry back those tidings. Won’t they dry the Marchesa’s tears?”