"And how dare you ask her or meddle in my affairs?" blustered Mr. Quentin in a loud voice.
"'Dare' is a foolish word to use to me, Quentin. I do not want to quarrel with you," feeling that his adversary was not quite himself. "But I wish to know why you deceived me in this way. What was your motive?"
Mr. Quentin was as much sobered by the stern eyes of his vis-à-vis, as if he had had his head immersed in a bucket of iced water. He reviewed the circumstances with lightning speed; to tide over to-morrow, nay, this very day, was all he wanted. In a few hours they would be off; the Scotia sailed at nine, and the chances were ten to one that Lisle and Helen Denis would never meet in this world again. Lisle would probably go home from the Nicobars. He could not afford to get into his black books (for various reasons, chiefly connected with cheque books), and he would brazen it out now. As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb!
"I am engaged to her," he said at last.
"She says you are not; it's merely your word against hers."
"And which do you believe?"
"Well, this is no time for mincing matters. I believe Miss Denis," said the other bluntly.
"Believe her against me? A girl you have not spoken to ten times in your life; and you and I have lived here under the same roof like brothers for months. Oh, Gilbert Lisle!" and his beautiful blue eyes looked quite misty, as he apostrophized his companion in a tone as mournful as the renowned "Et tu, Brute."—But, as I have already stated, Jim Quentin was a consummate actor.
Mr. Lisle was rather staggered for a moment, and the other went on,—
"Don't you know—but how should you? for you don't know woman's ways," with a melancholy shake of the head, "that they all, even the youngest and simplest of them, think it no harm to tell fibs about their sweethearts? I give you my solemn word of honour that I've heard an engaged girl swear she was not going to be married to a fellow up to a week before the wedding-day. They think that being known to be engaged, spoils their fun with other men; the more proposals they can boast of the better. If you have been such a fool, as to believe Helen Denis's little joke, all I can say is, that I am sorry for you!"