"It is necessary, Gossett," he said, "that I should be absolutely undisturbed for an hour. Kindly see that no one even knocks at my door for that period of time." Gossett held open the door and closed it softly. He was a very old servant, and in great measure he understood. CHAPTER XXXV Richard Vont was buried in the little churchyard behind Mandeleys, the churchyard in which was the family vault and which was consecrated entirely to tenants and dependents of the estate. The little congregation of soberly-clad villagers received more than one surprise during the course of the short and simple service. The Marquis himself, clad in sombre and unfamiliar garments, stood in his pew and followed the little procession to the graveside. The new tenant of Broomleys was there, and Marcia, deeply veiled but easily recognisable by that brief moment of emotion which followed the final ceremony. At its conclusion, the steward, following an immemorial custom, invited the little crowd to accompany him to Mandeleys, where refreshments were provided in the back hall. The Marquis had stepped back into the church. David and Marcia were alone. He came round to her side. "You don't remember me?" he asked. "Remember you?" she repeated. "Aren't you Mr. David Thain?" "Yes," he admitted, "but many years ago I was called Richard David Vont--when I lived down there with you, Marcia." Emotion had become so dulled that even her wonder found scanty expression. "I remember your eyes," she said. "They puzzled me more than once. Did he know?" "Of course," David answered. "We lived together in America for many years, and we came home together. Directly we arrived, however, he insisted on our separating. You know the madness of his life, Marcia." "I know," she answered bitterly. "Was I not the cause of it?" "It was part of his scheme that I should help towards his revenge," he explained. "I did his bidding, and the end was disaster and humiliation." They stood under the little wooden porch which led out into the park. "You will come up to Broomleys?" he invited. She shook her head. "Just now I would rather go back to the cottage," she said. "We shall meet again." "I shall be in England only for a few more days," he told her gloomily. "I am returning to America." She looked at him in some surprise. "I thought you had settled down here?" "Only to carry out my share in that infernal bargain. I have done it, I kept my word, I am miserably ashamed of myself, and I have but one feeling now--to get as far away as I can." "But tell me, David," she asked, "what was this scheme? What have you done to hurt him--the Marquis?" "I have done my best to ruin him," David replied, "and through some accursed scheme in which I bore an evil and humiliating part, I have brought some shadow of a scandal upon--" He broke off. Marcia waited for him to continue, but he shook his head.