"I am indeed deeply honored," he said and bowed stiffly. The irony of his tone was withering.
Darling, fighting himself for words, advanced a step or two. Then: "I should never have known you," he ventured unfortunately.
The other laughed with a hoarse, grim bitterness.
"No?" he queried. "How odd!" And his caller colored to his eyebrows.
"Would you care to sit down?" the viscount continued, pushing a chair forward with his uninjured right hand. The left, bandaged, was supported by a sling. "It may help you to some self-possession."
But Colonel Darling, irritated, shook his head.
"I sha'n't detain you," he said. "But—I—you see—you see, I had to make sure. I should never have believed, otherwise."
"You're quite sure you believe now?"
"Quite. Still, I can't understand. I would have sworn—"
"You did swear," Kneedrock interrupted. "That was the devil of it."