"I cannot listen to this, madam," he interrupted in an agitated voice, but she would not be stopped. "It is not long ago that you were kissing my shadow, Marius--are we now such strangers that I must conceal from you that my life is utter misery?" "Indeed it can be no matter of mine," he answered, very pale. The Countess clasped the edge of the chimney-piece. "It is very much a matter of yours. My lord, ye say, does his duty by you; but what of me? Do you dare to have no pity? The money that gave you your career was the price of my degradation----" "Enough of that," he exclaimed. "I have had very little from the Earl, and mean now to be free of him altogether." "But I," she said, "can never be free." She was silent a second, then added with a quiet force: "Did you know him as I have to know him you would hate him"--her voice sank--"even as I do." Marius Lyndwood shuddered. "I must not hear this." "You shall hear this. His bargain with my father cannot save him, my fortune has gone like sand through his fingers, and your noble House will come very surely to utter ruin." "You speak as if I were to blame," said Marius sombrely. "I am not my lord's monitor; what would you have me do? I have not been over contented or very much at ease this last year." He was angry with his brother though he would not admit so much, even to himself; he half disdained the Countess, but felt that truth and justice were on her side--he was attracted by her and repelled and troubled by her presence beyond the power of speech. "Well," she spoke more quietly. "You will go abroad again, and I am sorry, for it will leave me more utterly lonely; well, well." Marius moved silently to the window with a heavy step and looked out on the flat houses, the dusty sunshine, the barren blue sky. He turned again at a slight exclamation from the Countess. Rose Lyndwood had entered; he wore riding boots, and was wrapped in a pale pink mantle; he carried his white gauntlets and a short whip; he looked at his brother and an indescribable chill fell between them. Marius bowed formally. "Good even," said the Earl, and glanced at his wife; "it is unusual to find you at home at this hour, madam; Marius was fortunate." "I met him yesterday in your mother's house, my lord, and heard of his intent to come here to-day; therefore I am at home." With that she swept a curtsey and left them alone, save for that nameless discontent and coldness breathing like another presence between them. "The Countess is seldom at my mother's house," said Rose, as the door closed on her; "strange you should have met there." Marius did not answer; the level beams of the sun just sinking behind the houses on the other side of the square struck brilliantly on his bright uniform and flushed face. "You have decided to go to Paris?" asked my lord. "No," answered Marius in a constrained way, "I have decided to remain in London, sir."