"I had heard of it."
"You hear of everything. Is there anything that I could tell you that would really surprise you?"
"There is one thing."
"And that is?"
He hesitated a moment and then said:
"I should be very much surprised to hear that you had thought of making your greatest sacrifice for Rudarlia."
Then, I knew what was in his mind, and unconsciously I tried to gain time, so as to put off hearing what I did not wish to hear; until I realised that this was pure cowardice on my part, and said:
"What is that?"
"Marriage."
"Good Lord!"