t old minstrel, exhale the
rest of my enthusiasm in the open air!" He stalked out into the
verandah, put his hands in his pockets, and resumed the Recitativo of
Moses, sotto voce, in the garden.

I heard Sir Percival call after him from the dining-room window. But he
took no notice--he seemed determined not to hear. That long-deferred
quiet talk between them was still to be put off, was still to wait for
the Count's absolute will and pleasure.

He had detained me in the drawing-room nearly half an hour from the
time when his wife left us. Where had she been, and what had she been
doing in that interval?

I went upstairs to ascertain, but I made no discoveries, and when I
questioned Laura, I found that she had not heard anything. Nobody had
disturbed her, no faint rustling of the silk dress had been audible,
either in the ante-room or in the passage.

It was then twenty minutes to nine. After going to my room to get my
journal, I returned, and sat with Laura, sometimes writing, sometimes
stopping to talk with her. Nobody came near us, and nothing happened.
We remained together till ten o'clock. I then rose, said my last
cheering words, and wished her good-night. She locked her door again
after we had arranged that I should come in and see her the first thing
in the morning.

I had a few sentences more to add to my diary before going to bed
myself, and as I went down again to the drawing-room after leaving
Laura for the last time that weary day, I resolved merely to show
myself there, to make my excuses, and then to retire an hour earlier
than usual for the night.

Sir Percival, and the Count and his wife, were sitting together. Sir
Percival was yawning in an easy-chair, the Count was reading, Madame
Fosco was fanning herself. Strange to say, HER face was flushed now.
She, who never suffered from the heat, was most undoubtedly suffering
from it to-night.

"I am afraid, Countess, you are not quite so well as usual?" I said.

"The very remark I was about to make to you," she replied. "You are
looking pale, my dear."

My dear! It was the first time she had ever addressed me with that
familiarity! There was an insolent smile too on her face when she said
the words.

"I am suffering from one of my bad headaches," I answered coldly.

"Ah, indeed? Want of exercise, I suppose? A walk before dinner would
have been just the thing for you." She referred to the "walk" with a
strange emphasis. Had she seen me g