She pointed to the prostrate figure on the sofa, with
a merciless smile.
"You wanted a proof just now," she said. "There it is!"
Horace heard her. He suddenly left the sofa and joined Julian.
His face, naturally ruddy, was pale with suppressed fury.
"Take that wretch away!" he said. "Instantly! or I won't answer
for what I may do."
Those words recalled Julian to himself. He looked round the room.
Lady Janet and the housekeeper were together, in attendance on
the swooning woman. The startled servants were congregated in the
library doorway. One of them offered to run to the nearest
doctor; another asked if he should fetch the police. Julian
silenced them by a gesture, and turned to Horace. "Compose
yourself," he said. "Leave me to remove her quietly from the
house." He took Grace by the hand as he spoke. She hesitated, and
tried to release herself. Julian pointed to the group at the
sofa, and to the servants looking on. "You have made an enemy of
every one in this room," he said, "and you have not a friend in
London. Do you wish to make an enemy of _me?_ Her head drooped;
she made no reply; she waited, dumbly obedient to the firmer will
than her own.
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