The minuet had come to an end, the ballroom was emptying of all but a few couples who promenaded the shining floor; the tall distant windows were open on to gardens where the moonlight revealed the forms of trees and the lamps swung in their branches lit the revellers beneath; the Earl looked down the room, and made no answer to Miss Chressham's accusation, but she had a swift feeling that he was moved now; touched to the heart; as they had no longer music or laughter or the tumult of the throng to cover their speech, she lowered her voice and spoke in an added embarrassment. "Ah, Rose, could you not have kept a better guard on it?" He answered quietly. "I' faith, it was there in the desk when I looked again, after Sir Francis spoke to me; I know not whom to accuse." Susannah pulled off her mask, as if the fret of it was beyond bearing, and gave him a glowing look. The Earl paled a little under her gaze. "Can it be possible you do not guess?" "A servant, of course." Miss Chressham rose. "The Countess, of course; she stole the letter, and she wrote that paragraph; it is horrible to even mention it, but it is true and best that you should know it." He drew his breath sharply between his parted lips. "By Gad!" he said softly. "So you think so? Well, I thought of it." He laughed, to Susannah's surprise, almost in an amused manner: "But I could not credit that my lady had enough affection or enough dislike to me to be at the trouble----" "I am sorry that you should smile," she answered hotly, "to think what this woman you have married has brought on those you care for." He straightened himself, and flung back the pink domino. "What do you--what does she--want me to do?" Susannah could not say; it did not seem to her that it mattered what he did, so long as it was of his own conception, decisive, swift, carried to a conclusion; of all things this was the last she desired, that he should ask her what his action was to be. Could not his love for Selina (a thing in which she could not remotely meddle) guide him? She pressed her hand to her brow, looked on the floor and was silent. "Here is a woman's coil of gossip and slander!" cried my lord, and his tone was slightly mocking. "Neither you nor I can straighten it out, my dear"--he looked at her languidly; "take no heed of it, 'twill, by Gad, hurt no one." But his eyes, dark and fiery, belied his speech and encouraged her to endeavour to penetrate the guard of his indifferent manner. "You have no right to take this action of Lavinia's with a smile," she said. "Have you any proof of it?" he asked curiously. Susannah gave a short laugh. "None, I know." He gave her a flashing glance. "So do I," he said quickly. Susannah made a movement of despair and desperation. "Your marriage was unforgivable, Rose," she cried bitterly. "You know always she was 'bourgeoise,' and worse--and now--what have you come to that you laugh at your wife--your _wife_ doing this unspeakable thing?"