"But-but-"
I did not wait to hear what objection the waiting maid had to keeping my secret, but I at once dashed from the room and placed myself in an obscure corner of the landing place. I was not at all disappointed as to the result of the outcry that Annette had made, for in a moment the marchioness came up the stairs. She passed me and went into the bedroom, saying, "Annette, was that you? What is the matter?"
"Oh, madam, I thought I saw-"
"What? — what?"
"A ghost, madam!"
"You silly girl. I did think that you were above such folly as that.
Really, Annette, I shall have to part with you if anything of this sort happens again."
"I am sorry, madam, but I did think at the moment, that I saw something in the room, and I screamed; but if I frightened your ladyship, I am very sorry."
"You have not frightened me, girl; but folly of any kind or description always annoys me. You can go, now; I shall not want you any more tonight."
Annette left the room, and as she passed me upon the staircase she placed her finger upon her lips to intimate, in all probability that she had said nothing of my presence in the house. I comprehended in a moment what she meant and nodded and smiled my thanks. When she had got down the staircase some distance she beckoned to me, and when I had crept softly to where she was, she said, "For Heaven's sake, come now, count! I will let you out."
"Nay, Annette, I am decidedly too late to go any where else tonight and must needs stay here."
"But you cannot; it is impossible, I tell you. There is a reason."
"What is it?"
"That I dare not tell you, but there is a reason and I beg of you to go.
Besides, you will compromise me now by staying, for I told my mistress that I had seen a ghost, and if she should see you now she will guess that it was you whom I saw and that I only mentioned a ghost to screen you."
"There may be something in what you say," I replied, "and if anything could induce me to leave at once, it would be that by staying I did any mischief to you. But cannot you conveniently hide me somewhere? I tell you in confidence that I have a particular reason for not going home tonight."
"No-no, I cannot."
"Nay, think again, Annette. Think again. What the deuce is that?"
The sound of someone ascending the staircase to where they were came upon my ears. It was the footstep of a man, treading very cautiously, but yet firmly enough to be heard by both Annette and myself. The waiting maid caught me by the arms and dragged me into a room that opened from one of the steps, whispering as she did so, "Do not speak or move."
"But I may look?"
"No-no."
The person who was coming up the stairs had no light, so that although I kept in such a position that he could command a good view of the stairs I would not have seen who it was if the marchioness had not emerged from her bedroom and leant over the balustrades of the staircase with a light in her hand, saying, "Is that you, Charles?"
"Yes," replied a voice which I recognised at once as Lord Glozy's. I smiled as he passed up the staircase, and when he had disappeared in the bedroom of the marchioness I said to Annette, "So that was the special reason, was it, why you were urging upon me to go?"
"It was."
"Well, I won't deny but it's a good one, and now that I know as much I will go, and if you can let me out of this infernal house without any of the servants being aware that I am here I shall be much obliged."
"I can do that," said Annette. "Come this way at once."
As she spoke there was a look in her soft eyes which plainly said, "The mistress being otherwise engaged, why not try the maid?"
At the moment we were passing through a small sitting room with a convenient sofa, upon which I gently laid Annette and lifting the pretty girl's daintily frilled petticoats above her waist treated her to a short but eminently satisfactory tromboning, for which she was profoundly grateful.
Annette found no trouble in letting me out of the house, and giving her a guinea I hastily made my way home and threw myself upon my bed-vexed, put out, and mortified with myself and all the world.
"No one is true!" I muttered to myself. "I fancied-fool that I was-I fancied that the artful creature loved me! Ah! well," I continued with a sigh, "let her go. I have had enough in one short month of high-life; and as the money that Mrs. Finch gave me is all gone, I will now give up the farce of my countship and return once more to my original sphere!"
I felt more comfortable after this resolution, and with my mind at ease I quietly dropped asleep.
It was late when I awoke. I had dreamt of Bessy-whom I had not spoken to for weeks-and as the memory of her genuine love uprose before me I felt grieved and ashamed of my conduct in return, and I determined to take the first opportunity and seek her forgiveness.
As I arose, I glanced mechanically towards Bessy's window. She was sitting beside the window sill with her head bowed upon her hands, and weeping. Around her were a number of women, Emma among the rest, trying to console her.
Something had happened, but what it could be was of course unknown to me.
Emma, at length, while glancing casually in my direction, caught my eye and made a sign for me to approach.
I hurriedly completed my toilet and then hastened to the abode of my charmer. But judge of my astonishment when, on entering the outer room, I beheld the body of Bessy's brutal husband, pale, calm and outstretched upon a temporarily raised platform.
One glance was enough. The brute was no more-having suddenly been carried off that morning, as I subsequently heard, by a fit of apoplexy.
I approached the newly-made widow, surrounded as she was by her friends, to offer her my condolence. But she paid no attention to my presence and did not even deign to thank me for my sympathy.
I felt hurt, and after exchanging a glance with Emma I retired.
The relatives of her deceased husband took charge of the body and at the end of two days Bessy and her children were alone.
On the evening of the third day I determined to pay a visit to the young widow and, if necessary, to make an advance towards a reconciliation.
As I was about to leave my chamber I perceived a note lying upon the floor close to the threshold. It had evidently been placed there by some one who had passed it under the door.
I took it up and ran my eye over its contents. It was from Emma and stated that her husband would be from home till next day and wished me to spend the night with her.
At almost any other time this invitation would have been responded to with transport. But on the present occasion my reflections were all centered upon Bessy, and my imagination had been reveling all day upon my anticipated visit, our reconciliation, and the rapture that was sure to follow. I therefore tore up the note and without giving a second thought to the obliging Emma I proceeded towards the apartment of my lovely, adored, and charming Bessy.
As I softly approached the door of the outer room the murmur of voices arrested me.
I started back a step or two and my blood fled from my head to my heart, for one of the voices was that of a stranger. The words-"I have but a thousand pounds to offer you"-fell on my ears and, raging with jealousy, I staggered from the spot.
"She is prompt in receiving bids for her charms!" I muttered as I turned towards the staircase.
As I was in the act of leaving the landing a light hand was laid upon my shoulder.
I turned and beheld Emma in her dishabille. She held a light in her left hand, and while a smile lit up her fair features she beckoned me silently to enter her room.
"I'll do it!" I muttered to myself, "yes, I'll punish Bessy for her perfidy!"
I entered Emma's apartment. A table was set, and on it were refreshments.