Somewhere near here Marius lived--but where? Before her marriage she had seldom travelled further than Bedford Row, and since she had kept completely to Lyndwood House and the resorts of fashion, and never before had she been in the streets alone. This part of the town was utterly strange to her; she felt weary, too, and frightened, a new sensation. What if Marius were abroad, or refused to see her--or scorned her utterly, as these men could? Then her resolve and daring rose, running like a flame through her veins. She stopped a solitary hackney that passed and told the man to drive to Smith's Square; alighting there she paid him quietly as if 'twere a customary action, and looked about her. The Square was quite empty and the rain falling heavily in the gusts of the wind. The third house, they had said, from the south side, at the Sign of the Lamb. She found it without difficulty and paused under the little portico, to stare with shuddering eyes at the great clumsy church that occupied the centre of the Square. The chill dusk, the steady rain, the silent dark houses that yet had an air of watchfulness as if behind their blank windows spying eyes observed her, affected her with a terror that nearly brought her to scream aloud. She made no attempt either to ring the bell or to move away. The rain swept in under the portico, wetting her thin dress, the dark gathered about her, and her hand, resting on the iron railing of the steps, became a white blur before her eyes. Then the door opened. She stepped back. It was Marius' man. "Is your master at home?" the words came instinctively, more natural than silence. "Yes, madam." She wondered how much he could see of her, and spoke again, forestalling his curiosity. "I am of Captain Lyndwood's family, you need not come up with me." The man glanced round the deserted Square for her coach, chair, or servants. "You are perhaps on your way to my lady's house for some of your master's things?" the Countess hazarded. She could have laughed when he assented. "Then go, there is no need to interrupt your errand," she felt the desperation in her heart must be touching her voice. "Please let me pass, it is important that I see Captain Lyndwood at once." The servant stood aside and the Countess stepped across the threshold. "Captain Lyndwood's chambers are on the second floor, madam;" the man still hesitated, holding the door open. An inspiration came to the Countess to use her name--her husband's name; all she had learnt of the great dame flashed into her manner. "I am Lady Lyndwood, and my lord is following me." The man bowed, and she closed the door impetuously on him. Now, what to do? She looked about her. It was a modest hall pleasantly panelled with light wood; she heard someone singing below stairs and wondered about these others in the house.