"Do you think I came here to drink tea?" said the duchess in the tone of one who had come to drink blood.
"A lemon squash then," said the duke hastily.
"I haven't come here to drink tea, or lemon squashes," said the duchess. "I've come to learn what this means—to put an end to this ridiculous farce?"
"Eh? What? What farce?" said the duke.
"This farcical substitution of this wicked child, Mary Bride, for Marion," said the duchess, glaring at Pollyooly.
"But you're not going to do any substituting. I won't have it," said the duke firmly.
"Me? It's you! You've done it already!" cried the duchess, with a sudden note of astonishment in her voice.
The duke shook his head, and with a smile of superior knowledge said firmly:
"It won't do, Caroline. It's no good your trying it on."
The duchess gasped: "What do you mean? What do you mean?" she cried; and her tone was now all astonishment.