"Don't be absurd, Roddy," she commanded, tracing out a pattern of the carpet with the point of her sunshade. The tracing took some time. At length she desisted, and looked up, resting her arms on her knees. "Roddy, I'm engaged to be married."
A bowl stood on the table, full of late tea-roses sent up from Warwickshire.… As the blow fell I turned about, and slowly selected the best bloom.
"I hope," said I, "the fortunate man, whoever he is, doesn't object to your calling around on us poor bachelors and breaking the news. However, Jimmy Collingwood is up, with his wife, and will be coming around from his hotel in a few minutes. He'll do for a chaperon. Meanwhile"—I held out the rose—"I wish you all happiness from the bottom of my heart.… When is it to be?—and shall I be in time with an alligator for a wedding present?"
"Now that's rather prettily offered," said Constantia, half-extending her hand to take the flower, her eyes shining with just the trace of tears. "But you and I are a pair of humbugs, Roddy. To begin with you—I don't believe there are any such things as alligators on that island."
"What island?" I stammered, and my fingers gave a small, involuntary jerk at the rose's stem as hers closed upon it.
"The island about which you wrote that queer short note to—to Dr. Foe—two days ago, asking if he could supply you as nearly as possible with its bearings."
"Are you telling me—?" I began.
She nodded, searching my face. "Yes, your old friend is the man; and that's where I come in as a humbug. The reason of this call is that I want to know why you two, who used to be devoted, are no longer friends."
"Good Lord!" I exclaimed, not loudly, but more or less to myself. "You must forgive my lighting a cigar, Constantia.… My mind works slowly." While lighting it I made a miserable attempt to fob her off and gain time. "When an old friend cuts in and carries off—"
"That's nonsense," she interrupted sharply; "and you know it; and you ought to know that I know it."