'What circumstances?' questioned Clare, who was beginning to feel rather uncomfortable.
'He has had what I believe in England is termed a "row" with his brother.'
'How do you know?' she asked, quickly. 'Oh, I beg your pardon.'
'Never do that; but, indeed, had you not asked me, I was going to tell you, for I am in a difficulty. Although I know your language well, I do not so well know your social customs. Shall we see Mr Richard again, do you think?'
The question was put so innocently, and the Count appeared so really perplexed, that Miss Stanley stifled the evasive answer that first occurred to her, and said simply,—
'No, I don't.'
'Then a great part of my difficulty vanishes. I am ashamed to trouble you about my dilemmas; but I have been wondering whether I ought to know them both, since they have so quarrelled, or whether it is not incumbent on me to take one side or the other.'
'If you take sides at all,' said Clare, 'you should take the side you think right.'
'I am here amongst Englishmen. Being in Rome I must do as Rome does, and I do not know what is right and wrong to English people.'
'Right is right all the world over,' said Clare, adding, as a saving clause, 'if you can only see which is right. But you are not the only one who is in a dilemma.' Then, driven by an irresistible desire to know how the quarrel struck him, she asked him directly,—