He went out of the room and closed the heavy door after him with a force that caused the candle flame to flicker and the window to shake. Rose Lyndwood looked in front of him with an aimless gaze into the shadows; his drooping lids and his pallor gave him an expression of weariness. The carved clock in the corner struck ten; as the last note quivered to stillness, my lady entered the library. "Oh, Rose, Rose!" she said before she had closed the door. "Marius tells me, in one sentence, this--that we are ruined!" "Yes," answered the Earl. Lady Lyndwood dropped into the chair Marius had pulled out of place and clasped her shaking hands on the desk. "Marius also?" she whispered. "Yes," said my lord again. "He blames me----" "Do you wonder?" cried the Countess bitterly. "Do you wonder, Rose?" "It seems you too find me at fault," he answered. The candle-light only faintly revealed her, sitting by the massive desk, but fell bright over his tall restrained presence, over his grave tired face. "What did you expect of me?" asked Lady Lyndwood; then added, with a kind of feeble energy, "Rose, it cannot happen--it _must_ not, however entangled you are. It must not come to--to that--to selling the place." "Not _selling_ it," he corrected. "I don't understand any of it," she answered, "but it is impossible for us to leave Lyndwood." "It is impossible for us to keep it. Believe me, my lady, I have considered it all. If I had seen any means to help myself I should not be here to-night." "But Marius!" cried the Countess miserably. "Marius to come home to this--Marius penniless!" The Earl's lids flickered a little. "There are chances for Marius." The Countess rose with a movement of impatience. "It is bitterly unfair on him. He has been brought up to wealth; he was as ignorant as I that the money you squandered was all we had." Rose Lyndwood flushed. "We have all been thriftless and careless, my lady," he said. "I the most of any, and if I could have done anything to avert this----" "Oh, you talk!" she interrupted with a quivering voice. "And that is easy; but you have no right to stand there and tell me you are ruined. How is it with others? You had as fair chances as any." "By Gad--no!" said the Earl softly. "I had no chance to do anything--but what I did." My lady's anger could find no direct expression; she wavered from one charge to another. "You could have married," she cried. "Most gentlemen strengthen their fortunes by a wealthy match. But you--who received your attentions? I forbear to name them! And now it is too late." "Too late for a fine match--yes," said Rose Lyndwood. "I have not time to hunt an heiress before the bailiffs are in, and----" "You would not if you could," interrupted the Countess. "I would rather sell the estates than myself, madam."