, then? Bah! 'Tis not what ye want, my fine
madam; 'tis what we can get you; and where shall we find you a husband
now?"

Her eye fell upon Mr. Caryll, standing by one of the windows, a look
of profound disgust overplaying the usually immobile face. "Perhaps the
gentleman from France--the gentleman who saved you," she sneered, "will
propose to take the office."

"With all my heart, ma'am," Mr. Caryll startled them and himself
by answering. Then, perceiving that he had spoken too much upon
impulse--given utterance to what was passing in his mind--"I but mention
it to show your ladyship how mistaken are your conclusions," he added.

The countess loosed her hold of Hortensia's wrist in her amazement,
and looked the gentleman from France up and down in a mighty scornful
manner. "Codso!" she swore, "I may take it, then, that your saving
her--as ye call it--was no accident."

"Indeed it was, ma'am--and a most fortunate accident for your son."

"For my son? As how?"

"It saved him from hanging, ma'am," Mr. Caryll informed her, and gave
her something other than the baiting of Hortensia to occupy her mind.

"Hang?" she gasped. "Are you speaking of Lord Rotherby?"

"Ay, of Lord Rotherby--and not a word more than is true," put in the
earl. "Do you know--but you do not--the extent of your precious son's
villainy? At Maidstone, where I overtook them--at the Adam and Eve--he
had a make-believe parson, and he was luring this poor child into a
mock-marriage."

Her ladyship stared. "Mock-marriage?" she echoed. "Marriage? La!" And
again she vented her unpleasant laugh. "Did she insist on that, the
prude? Y' amaze me!"

"Surely, my love, you do not apprehend. Had Lord Rotherby's parson not
been detected and unmasked by Mr. Caryll, here--"

"Would you ha' me believe she did not know the fellow was no parson?"

"Oh!" cried Hortensia. "Your ladyship has a very wicked soul. May God
forgive you!"

"And who is to forgive you?" snapped the countess.

"I need no forgiveness, for I have done no wrong. A folly, I confess to.
I was mad to have heeded such a villain."

Her ladyship gathered forces for a fresh assault. But Mr. Caryll
anticipated it. It was no doubt a great impertinence in him; but he
saw Hortensia's urgent need, and he felt, moreover, that not even Lord
Ostermore would resent his crossing swords a moment with her ladyship.

"You would do well, ma'am, to remember," said he, in his singularly
precise voice, "that Lor