Light of foot and with hushed breathing she descended into the hall that was now full of sunlight, and opened the door. As she stood on the step looking up the Haymarket it did not seem strange that she should be leaving the house hastily attired, gloveless, agitated, to go to my lord at this early hour. She had no thought for anything, so strong, so imperative had been the wordless summons. Then, as she drew to the door, softly, for fear of waking my lady, a man moved from out the shadow on the opposite side of the street and crossed towards her. Miss Chressham paused. It was Mr. Harding, one of my lord's friends. She noted, with no surprise but with a sense of horror confirmed, his dishevelled appearance, his haggard, tired face. Fixing his eyes on her, he raised his hat, with an air of astonishment. "Do you come from my cousin?" she asked. He hesitated, staring. "I have come to see you or the Countess," he answered gravely. She held open the door. "Will you enter?" she said. As he followed her into the house he spoke. "It is almost as if you knew." "I think I do know," she replied. She led the way into the first room they came to, the dining-room; here the shutters were still closed and it was dark. "Do you come from my lord, Mr. Harding?" she asked, and faced him quietly. "Madam, I come from the Earl, from Lyndwood House," he said reluctantly. "And I am a coward before what I have to say." Susannah raised her hand. "A moment," she breathed, "give me a moment." She moved towards the window, then checked herself and came back. "Sit down," she said. "Sit down, sir." But he, as she, remained standing. "I was starting for Lyndwood House," she continued. "Has--has anyone told you?" She shook her head. "A feeling--but say what you have come to say, Mr. Harding." He stood silent, looking away from her. "You came to tell me," she urged, standing very erect, one hand resting on the table. Mr. Harding could not bring himself to speak. Susannah leant slightly towards him. "Come, Mr. Harding, tell me how my cousin died." He looked round startled. "The Earl _is_ dead," said Susannah. "You are here to say that the Earl is dead." "Alas! madam." She interrupted him almost fiercely. "I knew--ah, I knew!" "I have no speech suited to this need. Madam, my task is mournful--I was my lord's friend, and it was last night--I saw him fall--indeed I know not how it happened--my Lord Sandys----" "He is dead," repeated Susannah; "dead--dead." For a while there was silence, then she spoke again. "A duel?" "A quarrel, an angry word, a pass or two, and my lord fell, the moonlight was confusing; it was all over too quickly." Susannah gave a smile that made Mr. Harding blanch. "A street brawl," she said slowly. "So, he died that way. Did he speak--tell me, did he speak?" "He mentioned your name, his brother's, the debts; it--it happened outside St. Ann's, madam, and he desired, I think, not to be laid in that church."