“I am aware of nothing of the sort,” the Marchioness replied.
She had answered him in the same lowered voice that he had used.
Then, as if without turning round she was aware that her husband had come into the room and was standing just behind her, she said,
“I can imagine nothing more disgraceful than that I should find you here!”
“What is all this about? What is going on?” the Marquis demanded.
“You may well ask, George,” his wife replied. “I heard a sound, as I told you. So I came to investigate and found Osmond at Forella s bedside!”
The Marquis for the moment seemed stunned.
“What is this all about, Sherburn?” he asserted. “You have never met the girl until this evening!”
The Marchioness gave a very unpleasant laugh.
“For all we know, George, they may have been meeting each o
