"By God!" cried the Earl, transported. "Are you coward, too--in this fashion, too--that you can put a last insult on me--on your house?" The Countess flung herself before Marius, adding her fury to that of her husband. "Have you failed me now? Will you shame me utterly?" He looked, beyond them, at Miss Chressham. "I will not fight," he said. "I dare not. I think I might kill you." "Oh, what miserable folly are we reduced to in this boy?" exclaimed the Earl. "Unfortunate have we been, and our records are wild enough, but never have we touched this shame." Marius turned on him. "Take the Countess home, my lord," he said, "and set your own life straight. In mine own eyes I do right. And, insult me as you please, I will not, I swear, cross swords with you. As for my lady here, blame yourself, not her. I have scarcely touched her hand since her marriage, and there have been few words between us." "Spare me any speech!" broke in the Earl, restraining himself proudly. "I see now what I deal with." He slipped his sword back into the scabbard, and addressed his wife. "You will return with me, madam." The Countess fixed her eyes on Marius, and gave a foolish laugh. "Return--with you!" "With me." He picked up his cloak, then flashed round on his brother. "As for to-morrow morning---- "Hush!" breathed Marius quickly. "Not here, not now!" The Earl smiled. "What do you mean? I speak of my duel with Sir Francis. I will find another second." Miss Chressham, in the shadowed background, started convulsively, shivered and drooped. "No, no!" struck in Marius, sharply. "I will be there." "What is my affront from Sir Francis compared to this I take from you?" said my lord, still with glowing eyes, and that fixed, proud smile. "I do not wish to see your face again, my brother. You will not come to-morrow." Marius stood silent, and Susannah made a little moaning sound. "Come, my lady!" commanded the Earl. "Your confidante is waiting below. Shall we not end this miserable comedy that we have not wit nor courage to carry through?" In a slow, mechanical way she gathered up her hat and gloves. "I am accursed!" she said under her breath. "Well, God judge you, Marius!" He did not move nor speak. The Earl crossed to the door; his eyes flashed to Miss Chressham. "Are you coming with us, madam?" She shook her head dumbly. My lord lifted his shoulders. "Then _au revoir_! Maybe I shall see you again." The Countess arranged her hat and joined her husband. Her demeanour was quiet, yet resolute, as if she saw what to do and was satisfied. Susannah, even through her own agony, wondered at this sudden taming and resignation in her; she found something more deadly and horrible than open passion and despair in the way in which the Countess averted her face as she passed her husband, he holding the door open for her, and following her slight figure with his unforgiving eyes, as she went out on to the stairs. Still Marius did not speak.