"I was well advised in not making you my confidant sooner, if this is how you take it," cried Miss Chressham angrily. "Oh, you understand none of it, none; but at least be silent, do not defend the Countess Lavinia to me." "How you hate her," he answered, in a breathless way. Susannah's fair white hand made a gesture as if she put aside the semblance of something hideous. "I do not care to talk of her. This is the first time that my speech has meddled in my lord's affairs"--she drew herself together, as if her mental effort braced her body; "but it becomes no less than my duty now, Marius, to bid you take care." Marius leant forward and caught hold of the red silk window blind. "Of what?" he asked hoarsely. His obvious unease and agitation did not reassure Susannah. "Of the Countess Lavinia," she answered. "Do you think Rose will endure it? Whatever he is, he is not that manner of man." Her voice held an odd note of pride. Marius moistened his lips. "Has he said anything?" "To me, this evening, he warned me. I think you had better leave for Paris." "Because of the Countess Lavinia?" Marius spoke unsteadily. Something in his troubled, distracted bearing touched her; a kinder look came into her passionate eyes. "Oh, Marius, there was the old wretched mistake; Rose must remember it. You wooed her first, after all; well, when he sees you together--you must respect his pride." Marius drew back against the leather cushions and unaccountably laughed. "The Countess Lavinia," he said wildly, "I loathe her." He clenched his hand and brought it down with vehement force on the seat beside him. "Then you will go away?" Susannah spoke softly. "No, I cannot do that." The lace and diamonds at his throat heaved with his unequal breathing, and his lips quivered. "The Countess means to do us all a mischief," said Susannah, faint and shuddering with the effort of putting these things into words. "Cannot you see it, Marius, that she will find in this fashion her amusement and her revenge? Are you going to lend yourself to it? Go away." He looked up with brilliant eyes. "I shall stay," he answered passionately; "but not because of the Countess." "Ah, you think yourself very strong and courageous," returned Miss Chressham wearily, "but she is, in her way, a clever woman." "Do not talk of her," cried Marius roughly. Susannah made no reply. A little longer and the coach jolted to a standstill. Miss Chressham sprang up with a nervous little exclamation; the heavy door was opened on to the dark silent street and the summer fragrance, that clung even about the Haymarket with a sweet suggestion of things stirring, growing, breathing, animals, flowers and men, beneath the rising moon. They went into the house; the coach swung off up the street and the delicate stillness fell again.