Henry made no remark, he went straight to the drawing-room.
He found Agnes walking rapidly backwards and forwards, flushed and excited.

'If you come here to say what your brother has been saying to me,' she broke out, before he could speak, 'spare yourself the trouble.
I don't want common sense--I want a true friend who will believe in me.' 'I am that friend, Agnes,' Henry answered quietly, 'and you know it.' 'You really believe that I am not deluded by a dream ?' I know that you are not deluded--in one particular, at least.' 'In what particular ?' 'In what you have said of the Countess.

It is perfectly true--' Agnes stopped him there.

'Why do I only hear this morning that the Countess and Mrs.James are one and the same person ?' she asked distrustfully.

'Why was I not told of it last night ?' 'You forget that you had accepted the exchange of rooms before I reached Venice,' Henry replied.