"I think I surprised him," I said, drily.
"I'm sure of that," he agreed in a pleased tone. "I think I see. If he consents to our marriage and helps to secure for you the old title, it will be the best proof he can give the world that he knows your father was innocent of everything. So you see you'll have to marry me, Christabel, if it's only to secure your own purpose. Thank God!" he exclaimed fervently.
"Do you mean you would give up your birthright merely for me?" I asked.
"Why, of course. That's just what I told him," he replied, simply.
"Do you think I would let you?"
He glanced at me with another smile. "I shall give it up in any case. You must do what you please, you can't prevent me. But I——" he hesitated and added hopefully: "I think I'm very sure of you."
"You can't be sure yet of the Duke's consent. There is more to come than you know."
He reached forward suddenly and seized my hand. "I don't care what's going to happen now. You love me. That's enough for me to know."
"You are very confident—almost audacious. Very different from what you were when—Miss Gilmore met you before."
"It's your doing—all of it. You've given me backbone enough to be resolute on one point at any rate—I won't lose you."