"You knew you were not marrying a prudent man, madam, my reputation was easy to come at; if we made a mistake it was an irrevocable one. Till now we have at least avoided the folly of telling each other so." She returned his glance, straightly and keenly; her fine nostrils were distended, and against the pallor of her hollow cheeks the patches of rouge looked vivid and unnatural. "It has been very easy for you," she said. "I have not touched your life at all, I merely stand for that vulgarity--money; but money is something that cannot always be ignored, and you must face it now, it and me, my lord." The Earl spoke in a low voice. "What does your father say?" "He writes like a man possessed"--her slight hand touched the open letter. "The Dutch bank has failed, the East Indian ships are lost, he thinks his liabilities will be more than he can meet, unless he can negotiate some loan; but," she lifted her thin shoulders out of the glittering gown, "I have no doubt we are ruined. He curses me," she added, "and talks of Bedlam; he hath always dwelt on that matter of madness in our family." Her brilliant wrathful eyes turned to the Earl's colourless face. "What are our assets?" she asked. "Your post in the Ministry and Pelham on the verge of impeachment! Your impoverished estates, half entailed, the furniture, jewels, horses--worth a few thousands--not enough to satisfy a quarter of the creditors; what is before us?" "You know as well as I," he answered. "And do not blame me wholly, madam; you have not lived like an anchorite." "What you have lost on one night would furnish my needs for months; and there is your mother, your cousin." A swift colour flew into my lord's face. "Miss Chressham is in an independent position, madam." "Is your brother, Captain Lyndwood?" She tossed the name at him with an indescribable air of insolence and insult; he drew a deep breath. "I think we will not speak of him." "Why not? He has cost you somewhat, your marriage did him good service." "The best service I ever rendered Marius," interrupted my lord, "was when I prevented him from making you his wife, madam." The Countess quivered. "That was an unconscious favour," she cried. "You married me for my money, for nothing else." "For nothing else," he repeated, his attitude unchanged, his voice unaltered. "What other reason, madam, should I have had?" She pressed her hands to her tight bodice. "You glossed it with self-sacrifice, it was to save your brother, your mother, the estates--anything but for yourself, because you could not face life without money." Again the uncontrollable colour betrayed my lord, suffusing his face painfully. "Why are you saying this?" "Oh, I have been longing to say it ever since we were married; I think I have my chance now"--her voice trembled with passion--"ever since you ordered me from the room. Do you remember--that night you brought me home, and your brother turned his back on me?"