Hundreds perish in Paris every day! Come and see! Come and see! the perfectly vivid performance of what goes on hourly in Paris at the present moment." Marguerite had followed the direction of Sir Percy's eyes.

She too was looking at the booth, she heard the man's monotonous, raucous cries.

She gave a slight shudder and once more looked imploringly at her husband.
His face--though outwardly as lazy and calm as before--had a strange set look about the mouth and firm jaw, and his slender hand, the hand of a dandy accustomed to handle cards and dice and to play lightly with the foils, was clutched tightly beneath the folds of the priceless Mechlin frills.
It was but a momentary stiffening of the whole powerful frame, an instant's flash of the ruling passion hidden within that very secretive soul.

Then he once more turned towards her, the rigid lines of his face relaxed, he broke into a pleasant laugh, and with the most elaborate and most courtly bow he took her hand in his and raising her fingers to his lips, he gave the answer to her questions: "When your ladyship has ceased to be the most admired woman in Europe, namely, when I am in my grave.".