sofa
with the stealthy suddenness of a cat--seized her by both
shoulders--and shook her with the strength and frenzy of a madwoman.
'You lie! you lie! you lie!' She dropped her hold at the third
repetition of the accusation, and threw up her hands wildly with a
gesture of despair. 'Oh, Jesu Maria! is it possible?' she cried. 'Can
the courier have come to me through that woman?' She turned like
lightning on Mrs. Ferrari, and stopped her as she was escaping from the
room. 'Stay here, you fool--stay here, and answer me! If you cry out,
as sure as the heavens are above you, I'll strangle you with my own
hands. Sit down again--and fear nothing. Wretch! It is I who am
frightened--frightened out of my senses. Confess that you lied, when
you used Miss Lockwood's name just now! No! I don't believe you on
your oath; I will believe nobody but Miss Lockwood herself. Where does
she live? Tell me that, you noxious stinging little insect--and you
may go.' Terrified as she was, Mrs. Ferrari hesitated. Lady Montbarry
lifted her hands threateningly, with the long, lean, yellow-white
fingers outspread and crooked at the tips. Mrs. Ferrari shrank at the
sight of them, and gave the address. Lady Montbarry pointed
contemptuously to the door--then changed her mind. 'No! not yet! you
will tell Miss Lockwood what has happened, and she may refuse to see
me. I will go there at once, and you shall go with me. As far as the
house--not inside of it. Sit down again. I am going to ring for my
maid. Turn your back to the door--your cowardly face is not fit to be
seen!'

She rang the bell. The maid appeared.

'My cloak and bonnet--instantly!'

The maid produced the cloak and bonnet from the bedroom.

'A cab at the door--before I can count ten!'

The maid vanished. Lady Montbarry surveyed herself in the glass, and
wheeled round again, with her cat-like suddenness, to Mrs. Ferrari.

'I look more than half dead already, don't I?' she said with a grim
outburst of irony. 'Give me your arm.'

She took Mrs. Ferrari's arm, and left the room. 'You have nothing to
fear, so long as you obey,' she whispered, on the way downstairs. 'You
leave me at Miss Lockwood's door, and never see me again.'

In the hall they were met by the landlady of the hotel. Lady Montbarry
graciously presented her companion. 'My good friend Mrs. Ferrari; I am
so glad to have seen her.' The landlady accompanied them to the door.
The cab was waiting. 'Get in first, good Mrs. Ferrar