"Yes. Write to Miss Walmer definitely breaking off your engagement."
"My—engagement?"
"I heard what you said yesterday afternoon. I came back from my walk—there was a nail in my boot. I heard every word from the window in my room."
"You listened?"
"Yes, I listened."
"Romer, my dear fellow, I swear to you that ..."
"Don't swear anything to me," said Romer quietly. "And don't dare to defend Valentia to me.... I advise you not."
Harry was silent, utterly bewildered.
"I find that your——friendship, instead of being a pleasure to her, is making her miserable. For some reason she likes to have you about. She doesn't wish you to marry Miss Walmer. Well, you shan't! Do you hear that? You shan't! You're not going to marry that girl and then come dangling about again."
He waited a minute and then said—