“It cannot be – true,” Lara faltered. “When I fired he – collapsed and his – hands went to his – chest.”
Her words were almost incoherent, but her eyes were still on the Marquis’ face, looking at his searchingly as if she thought for some reason she could not understand that he was lying to her.
“He collapsed with a heart attack,” the Marquis said quietly. “He had suffered from his heart for some time and I have given him the medicine he always carries with him. He is now conscious and I have sent a groom for the doctor.”
“Is this – true? Is it – really – true?” Lara asked.
“I think you know it is.”
She sat down suddenly on the chair, as if her legs could no longer carry her.
“I was so – sure he was – dead,” she said almost as if she spoke to herself. “I believed that I would – have
