"Rubbish!" he answered. "There was never trouble in the world where a friend couldn't help. What is it now?"
She shook her head.
"I cannot tell you," she said, "only I am going to marry the Count de Brensault."
"I'm hanged if you are!" the Duke declared vigorously. "Look here, Miss Jeanne. This is your stepmother's doing. I know all about it. Don't you believe that in this country you are obliged to marry any one whom you don't want to."
"But I do want to," Jeanne answered, "or rather I don't mind whom I do marry, or whether I marry any one or no one."
The Duke was grave.
"I thought," he said, "that my friend Andrew had a chance."
Her face was suddenly burning.
"Mr. Andrew," she said, "does not want me; I mean that it is impossible. Oh, if you please," she added, bursting into tears, "won't you let me alone? I am going to marry the Count de Brensault. I have quite made up my mind. Perhaps you have not heard that it is all a mistake about my having a great fortune. The Count de Brensault is very kind, and he is going to marry me although I have no money."
The Duke stared at her for several moments. Then he rang the bell.