On her part, Andrea would have given ten years, sooner than only one, to have him in that place, but, unfortunately, each was ignorant of the other's mood, and they stood still, in almost painful expectation.
"You were saying that you had to endure a great deal at court. Was not the Queen pleasant towards you?"
"I have nothing to blame her Majesty for," replied the ex-lady of honor, "and I should be unjust if I did not acknowledge her Majesty's kind treatment."
"I hinted at this, because I have lately noticed that the friendship seemed to show a falling off," continued the count.
"That is possible, and that is why I am leaving the court."
"Have I not always lived so, my lord?" sighed Andrea, "as maid--wife--" she stopped, seeing that she was going too far.
"What right have I in heaven's name to make reproaches to your lordship?" retorted the countess: "do you believe I have forgot the circumstances under which we were plighted? Just the opposite of those who vow before the altar reciprocal love and mutual protection, we swore eternal indifference and complete separation. The blame would be to the one who forgot that oath."
Charny caught the sigh which these words had not entirely suppressed, from the speaker's heart.
"But this is such a small dwelling," he said: "a countess in one sitting room with only another to eat in, and this for repose----"
She sprang in between him and the bedroom, seeing Sebastian behind the door, in her mind's eye.
"Oh, my lord, do not go that way, I entreat you," she exclaimed, barring the passage with her extended arms.
"Oh, my lady," said he, looking at her so pale and trembling, with fright never more plain on a human face, "I knew that you did not like me: but I had no idea you hated me to this degree."
Incapable of remaining any longer beside his wife without an outburst, he reeled for a space like an intoxicated man; recovering himself, he rushed out of the room with an exclamation of pain which echoed in the depths of the hearer's heart.
She watched him till he was out of sight; she listened till she could no longer hear his departing carriage, and then with a breaking heart, dreading that she had not enough motherly love to combat with this other passion, she darted into the bedroom, calling out: