speak a word for me? [AGNES quickly
turns away and sits upon the settee, her hands to her brow.] However, I
didn't come here to revile you. [Standing by her.] They say that you're
a strange woman--not the sort of woman one generally finds doing such
things as you have done; a woman with odd ideas. I hear--oh, I'm
willing to believe it!--that there's good in you. [AGNES breaks into a
low peal of hysterical laughter.]

AGNES. Who tells you--that?

SYBIL. The Duke.

AGNES. Ha, ha, ha! A character--from him! ha, ha, ha!

SYBIL. [Her voice and manner softening.] Well, if there is pity in you,
help us to get my husband back to London, to his friends, to his old
ambitions.

AGNES. Ha, ha, ha, ha! your husband!

SYBIL. The word slips out. I swear to you that he and I can never be
more to each other than companion figures in a masquerade. The same
roof may cover us; but between two wings of a house, as you may know,
there often stretches a wide desert. I despise him; he hates me.
[Walking away, her voice breaking.] Only--I did love him once . . . I
don't want to see him utterly thrown away--wasted . . . I don't quite
want to see that . . . [AGNES rises and approaches SYBIL, fearfully.]

AGNES. [In a whisper.] Lift your veil for a moment. [SYBIL raises her
veil.] Tears--tears--[with a deep groan]--Oh--! [SYBIL turns away.] I
--I'll do it . . . I'll go back to the Palazzo . . . at once . . .
[SYBIL draws herself up suddenly.] I've wronged you! Wronged you! O God!
O God! [She totters away and goes into her bedroom. For a moment or two
SYBIL stands still, a look of horror and repulsion upon her face. Then
she turns and goes towards the outer door.]

SYBIL. [Calling.] Sandford! Sandford!

[SIR SANDFORD CLEEVE and the DUKE OF ST. OLPHERTS enter.]

SIR SANDFORD. [To SYBIL.] Well--?

SYBIL. She is going back to the Palazzo.

SIR SANDFORD. You mean that she consents to--?

SYBIL. [Stamping her foot.] I mean that she will go back to the
Palazzo. [Sitting and leaning her head upon her hands.] Oh! oh!

SIR SANDFORD. Need we wait any longer, then?

SYBIL. These people--these people who are befriending her! Tell them.

SIR SANDFORD. Really, it can hardly be necessary to consult--

SYBIL. [Fiercely.] I will have them told! I will have them told!
[SANDFORD goes to the door of the adjoining room and knocks, returning
to SYBIL as GERTRUDE and AMOS enter. SYBIL draws down her veil.]

GERTRUDE. [Looking round.] Mrs. Ebbsmith-