ery likely that I was speaking in a
louder voice than I was altogether aware of, but her answer gave me a
new surprise.

"I am not in the least afraid of you, Captain Fyffe; my servants are in
the house, and I can ring for them at any minute."

This cooled me, even in the middle of my exasperation and the galling
sense of impotence I felt.

"I beg your pardon, Lady Rollinson. I am bewildered by your manner. I am
laboring under an accusation of a very dreadful sort, and you refuse to
listen to me, though I can prove my innocence quite easily."

"Why," she exclaimed, "I haven't even told the man what the accusation
is! But in spite of his innocence he knows all about it."

"I know all about it," I retorted, "because it has been brought against
me before, and withdrawn by the very woman who brings it now. Will you
listen to me, Lady Rollinson?"

"I will not willingly listen to another word."

"Where is Violet?" I asked.

"That I shall not tell you," she answered. "I have made up my mind I
shall do nothing until the arrival of the count. When he comes back,
if ever he does, poor man, the responsibility will be off my shoulders.
Until then, I shall take very good care that you have nothing to do with
Violet."

This seemed to me to be carrying things with far too high a hand, and
there, at least, I thought I had a right to speak with some show of
authority.

"Violet," I said, "is my promised wife, and I am not going to allow any
folly of this kind to come between her and me. I shall insist upon my
right to see her, and to clear myself of any accusation which may have
been brought against me in my absence."

"You may insist as much as you please, Captain Fyffe," Lady Rollinson
answered. "I have made up my mind as to what is my duty, and I shall do
it, even at the risk of your most serious displeasure."

"You tell me," I said, "that she is not here?"

"I have told you already," she replied, "that she is not here. I have
made arrangements for her until the count returns."

"And am I to understand," I asked, "that you refuse to allow me to know
her address?"

"You may understand that definitely," said her ladyship.

It was all very disagreeable, but at least there was one ray of comfort
in the middle of it.

"Violet knows my address," I said, "and she is certain to write to me."

"I might have something to thank you for there, Captain Fyffe," said
the old lady, with an almost comical increase of dignity, "i