“Extraordinary! Most extraordinary!” Carpentaria exclaimed.
“I don’t think it’s quite so extraordinary as all that!” said Pauline.
“You don’t know what I mean,” Carpentaria replied. “I also have a message—for you. It is from our friend Mr. Jetsam Ilam and your sister. Have you seen Miss Rosie since this morning?”
“No,” said Pauline; “she went with Juliette.”
“Exactly. She went with Juliette. And she has done what Juliette has done. I was asked by Mr. Jetsam Ilam to inform you that instead of marrying your sister next week he has married her this week. He is very sorry. He has a perfect horror of publicity. In fact they chose the registry office.”
“What a shame!” cried Pauline. “What a shame!”
“Ah,” said Carpentaria, “you didn’t mind them deceiving me! But when it comes to deceiving you——! It must have been a united plot on the part of those two pairs of people to deceive us two; and, I must say, they managed the thing pretty well. Don’t you think so?”
“I think they’ve been horrid,” said Pauline.
“And we two are quite alone, for one solid week—you in your house, and I in mine,” said Carpentaria.
There was a pause, and then he heard a sob.