"I tell you I love him—you do not understand."
"I understand that you love him in one of two ways. If it's a great love it's capable of sacrifice to prove its greatness. Show that it is so by giving him up. If it's any other sort of love it will not stand the strain to which you propose to subject it, and within six months after your marriage you'll realise that you've ruined two lives, and are yourself the chief sufferer. Come, prove that what you say is true, and save him from himself."
"But if I do, I do it at a fearful price. It means social ostracism."
"Not at all. Who will know of this charge against you? Four people at the most, and not one of them will ever speak of it. Darcy, who originated the lie, will, for obvious reasons, keep silent. Stanley's the soul of honour; he'd rather tear his tongue out than speak a word of it. I've proved my discretion through several generations, and Kingsland must be held in check by you."
"Why do you include Lieutenant Kingsland?"
"Because, I believe, he holds the only piece of evidence which could appear to substantiate Darcy's trumped-up lie."
"And that is?"
"The receipt for the forty thousand pounds in your name."
"And you wish me to ask Kingsland to proclaim my own shame!"
"I wish you to ask him to give that receipt to the Secretary."