“Get up, you unspeakable swine! I have not finished with you yet,” he flashed between his teeth and there was murder in his eyes.

It was then that Gretna put her hand on his arm.

“Don’t kill him – ”

The Marquis looked down at her and it appeared to her that the expression on his face did not change.

“Don’t kill him,” Gretna said again. “Take me – away. Please, please take me – away.”

In answer the Marquis bent down and picked up Lord Wroxhall by the lapels of his velvet coat.

He was a pitiable sight.

The Marquis held him for a moment, looking at his abject, snivelling bloody face with satisfaction.

Then he said,

“Listen to me, Wroxhall. Go away and don’t dare come back. If you do, I swear that everyone shall hear of what has happened this night. Set one foot on English soil and the whole world shall know what you tried to do and how you failed. You will not only be exiled, but you will be the laughing stock of the Society you value so highly. Now, go to Hell and quickly!”

He flung him contemptuously on the floor.

“Fetch your cloak,” he said curtly to Gretna.

“It is – here,” she faltered, taking it from the chair where she had laid it.

She put it round her and he made no effort to help her.

His face was stern and uncompromising.

She pulled the hood up over her head. As he held open the door for her to pass through it, she looked up at him for a moment with an appeal in her eyes.

She wanted to thank him, but no words would come to her lips.

“The Revenue Cutter is alongside,” he informed her coldly and she knew by the look on his face that there was no forgiveness for her there.

CHAPTER TWELVE

The Marquis of Stade sat down to breakfast with the air of a man who has been asked to eat at his own funeral.

He declined the appetising dishes that his butler brought him one by one and finally contented himself with merely picking at a lamb cutlet.

“What is the time, Masters?” he asked in the tone of one who would not be surprised if he was told it was the crack of doom.

“’Tis five minutes past noon, my Lord,” Masters said in a respectful tone and added, “what does your Lordship wish me to do with the money you brought home last night?”

The Marquis glanced briefly at the pile of gold coins and notes that stood on a side table where he had laid them after he returned from the gaming rooms.

He did not answer and Masters went on,