“So I am.”

“And as you’re going to marry him

“I never said I was going to marry him. I only said he might be engaged to me, if he liked.”

“Oho! So this young Merceron——”

“Not at all, grandpapa. Oh, I do wish somebody would help me!”

Lord Thrapston rose from his seat.

“You must do what you like,” he said. “I’m going to tell Calder.”

“Oh, why?”

“Because,” he answered, “I’m a man of honor.”

Before the impressive invocation of her grandfather’s one religion, Agatha’s opposition collapsed.