"Perhaps the gentleman from France--the gentleman who saved you," she sneered, "will propose to take the office." "With all my heart, ma'am," Mr.Caryll startled them and himself by answering.

Then, perceiving that he had spoken too much upon impulse--given utterance to what was passing in his mind--"I but mention it to show your ladyship how mistaken are your conclusions," he added.
The countess loosed her hold of Hortensia's wrist in her amazement, and looked the gentleman from France up and down in a mighty scornful manner.

"Codso!" she swore, "I may take it, then, that your saving her--as ye call it--was no accident." "Indeed it was, ma'am--and a most fortunate accident for your son." "For my son?
As how ?" "It saved him from hanging, ma'am," Mr.Caryll informed her, and gave her something other than the baiting of Hortensia to occupy her mind.
"Hang ?" she gasped.

"Are you speaking of Lord Rotherby ?" "Ay, of Lord Rotherby--and not a word more than is true," put in the earl.

"Do you know--but you do not--the extent of your precious son's villainy?
At Maidstone, where I overtook them--at the Adam and Eve--he had a make-believe parson, and he was luring this poor child into a mock-marriage." Her ladyship stared.