General Lennox, standing by the table, with one candle on the chimneypiece and his glasses to his eyes, read aloud, with some little stumbling, these words from the letter of Monsieur Varbarriere:--
"The reason of my so doing will be obvious when I say that I have certain circumstances to lay before you which nearly affect your honour. I decline making any detailed statement by letter; nor will I explain my meaning at Marlowe Manor. But if, without _fracas_, you will give me a private meeting, at any place between this and London, I will make it my business to see you, when I shall satisfy you that I have not made this request without the gravest reasons."
"Those are the passages, sir, on which you are so good as to offer me an explanation; and first, there's the phrase, you know, 'certain circumstances to lay before you which nearly affect your _honour_;' that's a word, you know, sir, that a fellow _feels_ in a way--in a way that can't be triffled with."
"Certainly. Put your question, General Lennox, how you please," answered Varbarriere, with a grave bow.
"Well, how--how--exactly--I'll--I will put my question. I'd like to know, sir, in what relation--in--yes--in what relation, as a soldier, sir, or as a gentleman, sir, or as--_what_?"
"I am very much concerned to say, sir, that it is in the very nearest and most sacred interest, sir--as a _husband_."
General Lennox had sat down by this time, and was gazing with a frank stern stare full into the dark countenance of his visitor; and in reply he made two short little nods, clearing his voice, and lowering his eyes to the table.
It was a very trifling way of taking it. But Varbarriere saw his face flush fiercely up to the very roots of his silver hair, and he fancied he could see the vessels throbbing in his temples.
"I--very good, sir--thank you," said the General, looking up fiercely and shaking his ears, but speaking in a calm tone.
"Go on, pray--let me know--I say--in God's name, don't keep me."
"Now, sir, I'll tell it to you briefly--I'll afterwards go into whatever proof you desire. I have reason, I deeply regret it, to believe--in fact to know--that an immoral intimacy exists between Sir Jekyl Marlowe and Lady Jane Lennox."