"I tell you them merely to explain what follows, madam," answered Honoria, unmoved. "My lady, who beats herself in a vain passion of hatred against my lord's scorn, comes upstairs in a fever, talking incoherently of ruin, and falls into hysterics. She faints three or four times in the night, and lies in a stupor till midday. This morning a friend of Sir Francis Boyle comes with, I think, a challenge for my lord, who leaves the house, with no inquiry after the Countess." "A challenge!" interjected Miss Chressham. "I believe so, madam; but I am speaking of my mistress. She rose this afternoon, took the coach, and came here, though she was not fit to leave the house. Soon after she returned and told me that Mr. Marius--Captain Lyndwood--had left here and taken lodging in Westminster. She said she had the address." "They gave it to her!" cried Susannah angrily. "She said so," repeated Honoria. "She seemed very weak, and almost beside herself; she raved against my lord and his family, and talked of Bedlam and the madness in her family, but she insisted on going out again to drink tea with Lady Fulton. It was late then, and she would neither take me nor the coach, but got into a chair. There was none with her, only a page following." "Go on," said Susannah faintly, as Honoria paused. "My lord came home soon after. He and my lady were due at a ball at Trefusis House; he sent up to know if she was coming, and when I said she was yet abroad, he left without comment." "And she has not returned?" broke in Miss Chressham. "You are going to tell me that she has not returned?" "She had not, madam, when I left the house an hour ago; but the page returned, and the chair. My lady had dismissed them both by St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, and she gave the boy a gold piece not to hang round with the chair, nor yet to attract attention by going back immediately, which commands the little wretch carried out; but I frightened the truth from him. He said my lady seemed distracted--that she told him she would return in a hackney, and that she went, on foot, towards Westminster." Susannah put her hand before her eyes, as if a fierce light burnt them. "And--what do you think?" she asked hoarsely. Honoria regarded her steadily. "I think my lady means to run away with Mr. Marius." "Oh, my God!" murmured Susannah. She rose desperately and looked wildly about her. "My God, what shall I do?" "She has gone to his lodgings," continued Honoria. "She is there now. I never believed that she would do anything so desperate, but it is amazing how she hates my lord." "Captain Lyndwood will bring her back," cried Susannah, remembering last night. "I can trust him for that. He will see her insanity, and bring her back." "Do you think so?" asked Honoria. "If she throws herself on his pity, madam?"