Edgar, with whom tact was not a strong point, went on bluntly:-- “Well, he’ll be more depressed when he sees her.” “What do you mean?” “Why, that this woman who says she’s his wife, the woman who is in the park now, and who says she will see you or see him before she goes away, is the very woman whose house you’ve forbidden us to go to, the keeper of a gambling-room--Madame Rocada!” The shock was so great that Lord Clanfield fell back, scarcely able to speak, breathless, bewildered, horror-struck. “Are--are you sure?” “I’m sure that the woman who calls herself Madame Rocada is outside the house at this moment, that she says she came in answer to a letter from you about us----” “Yes, I did write to her.” “--and that she declares she saw Gerard--you see she knows his name--in a chair in the grounds, with a nurse. And she complains that she had not even heard that he was ill, and she seems as genuinely upset as ever I saw a woman in my life! And I believe she _is_ his wife, I do on my honour!” The viscount made up his mind quickly. “Get rid of her,” said he. “Drive her away at all costs, I don’t mean roughly, of course. But you must find some means of getting her outside the grounds before Gerard hears of her being here.” “Not so easy! One can deal with a mad dog more easily than with a determined woman!” retorted Edgar. “I tell you she must go, must be sent away. Use any argument you like, tell her it would kill him to break the news of her coming too suddenly. That is true, I believe. In the meantime say I undertake to answer her letters if she will write--but it must be to me, not to him. And--and what I shall do is to get my lawyers to see her, to arrange with her--until we know something, find out something.” Edgar, however, still lingered. “I can never say all that,” grumbled he. “Besides, she wouldn’t listen. You know she wouldn’t.” Remembering what he did of Audrey, poor Lord Clanfield thought this very likely, and his agitation grew stronger and stronger until it found a climax when, perceiving that the window nearest to him had become slightly darkened, he turned, and saw Audrey herself, very white, very quiet, peering in. “Good Heavens, Madame, you have no right----” began the startled gentleman. But Audrey leaned with her arms upon the window-ledge, and putting her head forward into the room, said in a low-pitched but determined voice:-- “You must see me. I insist. You must let me in.” And, helpless in these strong if slight fingers, Lord Clanfield gave way. Motioning to his son to open the French window at the other end of the room, he leaned against the old carved white marble mantelpiece and prepared for the worst. CHAPTER XII