“Well,” she said, with a great touch of sadness, “I can, of course, do
nothing whilst my aunt is alive. I cannot force her to let me live at
Fordwych or to acknowledge me as her heir. After her death, if my
sister does assume the title and fortune of d’Alboukirk,” she added,
whilst suddenly a strange look of vengefulness--almost of hatred and
cruelty--marred the child-like expression of her face, “then I shall
revive the story of the tragedy of Roonah’s death, and I hope that
public opinion----”
She paused here in her speech, and I, who had been gazing out of the
window, turned my eyes on her. She was ashy-pale, staring straight
before her; her hands dropped the knife and fork which she had held.
Then I saw that Pegram had come into the room, that he had come up to
the table and placed a packet of papers in Lady Molly’s hand.