The servant who had admitted him had scarcely retired when Marah looked up and her eyes and those of the stranger met--and-"Marah Rocke!!!"
"Colonel Le Noir!!!"
Burst simultaneously from the lips of each.
Le Noir first recovered himself, and, holding out both hands, advanced toward her with a smile as if to greet an old friend.
But Marah, shrinking from him in horror, turned and tottered to the farthest window, where, leaning her head against the sash, she moaned: "Oh, my heart: my heart! Is this the wolf to whom my lamb must be committed?"
As she moaned these words she was aware of a soft step at her side and a low voice murmuring: "Marah Rocke, yes! the same beautiful Marah that, as a girl of fifteen--twenty years ago--turned my head, led me by her fatal charms into the very jaws of death--the same lovely Marah with her beauty only ripened by time and exalted by sorrow!"
With one surprised, indignant look, but without a word of reply, Mrs. Rocke turned and walked composedly toward the door with the intention of quitting the room.
Colonel Le Noir saw and forestalled her purpose by springing forward, turning the key and standing before the door.
"Forgive, me, Marah, but I must have a word with you before we part," he said, in those soft, sweet, persuasive tones he knew so well how to assume.
Marah remembered that she was an honorable matron and an honored mother; that, as such, fears and tremors and self-distrust in the presence of a villain would not well become her; so calling up all the gentle dignity latent in her nature, she resumed her seat and, signing to the visitor to follow her example, she said composedly: "Speak on, Colonel Le Noir--remembering, if you please, to whom you speak."
"I do remember, Marah; remember but too well."
"They call me Mrs. Rocke who converse with me, sir."
"Marah, why this resentment? Is it possible that you can still be angry? Have I remained true to my attachment all these years and sought you throughout the world to find this reception at last?"
"Colonel Le Noir, if this is all you had to say, it was scarcely worth while to have detained me," said Mrs. Rocke calmly.
"But it is not all, my Marah! Yes, I call you mine by virtue of the strongest attachment man ever felt for woman! Marah Rocke, you are the only woman who ever inspired me with a feeling worthy to be called a passion----"