"Yes, yes?" urged Richard. "And then?"
"I do not remember. He came, as I said, often, mostly to talk to my husband, who was a great invalid, but sometimes to see me. He would hardly ever speak of England-I think he did not trust himself. He never mentioned any relations or any English friends, and when I spoke of home, he would shut his mouth very tightly, and look terribly sad. I saw that for some reason the subject pained him, so I never spoke of it if I could help it."
"He was a most entertaining companion, Mr. Carstares; he used to tell my husband tales that made him laugh as I had not heard him laugh for months. He was very lively, very witty, and almost finickingly well dressed, but what his occupation was I could not quite ascertain. He said he was a gentleman of leisure, but I do not think he was at all wealthy. He frequented all the gaming houses, and I heard tales of his marvellous luck, so one day I taxed him with it, and he laughed and said he lived by Chance-he meant dice. Yet I know, for I once had conversation with his servant, that his purse was at times very, very slender."
"The time he aided you, Mrs. Fanshawe, when was that?"
She flushed.
"That was a few months after we first met him. I was-foolish; my married life was not-very happy, and I was-or, rather, I fancied myself-in love with an Austrian nobleman, who-who-well, sir, suffice it that I consented to dine with him one evening. I found then that he was not the galant homme I had thought him, but something quite different. I do not know what I should have done had not Sir Anthony arrived."
"He did arrive then?"
"Yes. You see, he knew that this Austrian had asked me to dine-I told him-and he counselled me to refuse. But I-well, sir, I have told you, I was young and very foolish-I would not listen. When he called at our house and found that I was out, he at once guessed where I had gone, and he followed me to the Count's house, gave an Austrian name, and was announced just as the Count tried to-tried to-kiss me.
I think I shall never forget the relief of that moment! He was so safe, and so English! The Count was furious, and at first I thought he would have his lackeys throw Anthony out. But when he heard all that Anthony had to say, he realised that it was useless to try to detain me-and I was taken home. Anthony was very kind-he did not scold, neither had he told my husband. Two days after, he and the Count fought a duel, and the Count was wounded in the lung. That was all. But it made me very grateful to him and interested in his affairs.