Howeverthismightbe，hewasunquestionablytroubledbysomesecretannoyanceoranxiety，which，withallhispowersofdeception，hewasnotableentirelytoconceal。ThroughthewholeofdinnerhewasalmostassilentasSirPercivalhimself，andhe，everynowandthen，lookedathiswifewithanexpressionoffurtiveuneasinesswhichwasquitenewinmyexperienceofhim。Theonesocialobligationwhichheseemedtobeself-possessedenoughtoperformascarefullyaseverwastheobligationofbeingpersistentlycivilandattentivetome。WhatvileobjecthehasinviewIcannotstilldiscover，butbethedesignwhatitmay，invariablepolitenesstowardsmyself，invariablehumilitytowardsLaura，andinvariablesuppressionatanycostofSirPercival’sclumsyviolence，havebeenthemeanshehasresolutelyandimpenetrablyusedtogettohisendeversincehesetfootinthishouse。Isuspecteditwhenhefirstinterferedinourfavour，onthedaywhenthedeedwasproducedinthelibrary，andIfeelcertainofitnow。
WhenMadameFoscoandIrosetoleavethetable，theCountrosealsotoaccompanyusbacktothedrawing-room。
`Whatareyougoingawayfor？’askedSirPercival——`Imeanyou，Fosco。’
`IamgoingawaybecauseIhavehaddinnerenough，andwineenough，’
answeredtheCount。`Besokind，Percival，astomakeallowancesformyforeignhabitofgoingoutwiththeladies，aswellascominginwiththem。’