She had a sudden fear as she spoke that perhaps Mr. Stowe had come to try and interest her father in a charity or obtain money from him in one way or another.
Then she told herself, having seen the horses he drove and the manner in which he was dressed, that such an idea was ridiculous.
“What is – it you – want?” she asked again, and there was an undoubted note of apprehension in her voice. “Suppose you sit down?” the Marquis said.
He spoke with an air of authority that made Ajanta obey him without argument.
As she sat in the nearest armchair, which faced the window, the Marquis took her place in front of the mantelpiece and remained standing.
“When I came here yesterday,” he said, “I realised from the things you said and the remarks made by your father that you are finding it difficu
