Withanexertionofforce，ofwhichshewouldatanothertimehavethoughtherselfincapable，theCountessfreedherselffromtheprofaneandprofaninggraspofthedrunkendebauchee，andretreatedintothemidstofherapartment。wheredespairgavehercouragetomakeastand。
AsLambourne，onentering，droppedthelapofhiscloakfromhisface，sheknewVarney\'sprofligateservant，theverylastperson，exceptinghisdetestedmaster，bywhomshewouldhavewishedtobediscovered。Butshewasstillcloselymuffledinhertravellingdress，andasLambournehadscarceeverbeenadmittedtoherpresenceatCumnorPlace，herperson，shehoped，mightnotbesowellknowntohimashiswastoher，owingtoJanet\'spointinghimfrequentlyoutashecrossedthecourt，andtellingstoriesofhiswickedness。Shemighthavehadstillgreaterconfidenceinherdisguisehadherexperienceenabledhertodiscoverthathewasmuchintoxicated;butthiscouldscarcehaveconsoledherfortheriskwhichshemightincurfromsuchacharacterinsuchatime，place，andcircumstances。
Lambourneflungthedoorbehindhimasheentered，andfoldinghisarms，asifinmockeryoftheattitudeofdistractionintowhichAmyhadthrownherself，heproceededthus:\"Harkye，mostfairCalipolis——ormostlovelyCountessofclouts，anddivineDuchessofdarkcorners——ifthoutakestallthattroubleofskeweringthyselftogether，likeatrussedfowl，thattheremaybemorepleasureinthecarving，evensavethyselfthelabour。I
lovethyfirstfrankmannerthebest———likethypresentaslittle\"——（hemadeasteptowardsher，andstaggered）——\"aslittleas——suchadamnedunevenfloorasthis，whereagentlemanmaybreakhisneckifhedoesnotwalkasuprightasaposture—masteronthetight—rope。\"
\"Standback！\"saidtheCountess;\"donotapproachnearertomeonthyperil！\"