'Can I?' asked Lady Maud, evasively.
'Yes, you can, and I believe there'll be trouble unless you do.'
'Who is she? Do I know her?' She was trying to put off the evil moment.
'Oh, yes, you know her quite well. It's Madame Cordova.'
'But she's engaged to Monsieur Logotheti——'
'I don't care. I mean to marry her if she marries any one. He shan't have her anyway.' [{60}]
'But I cannot deliberately help you to break off her engagement! It's impossible!'
'See here,' answered Mr. Van Torp. 'You know that Greek, and you know me. Which of us will make the best husband for an English girl? That's what Madame Cordova is, after all. I put it to you. If you were forced to choose one of us yourself, which would you take? That's the way to look at it.'
'But Miss Donne is not "forced" to take one of you——'
'She's going to be. It's the same. Besides, I said "if." Won't you answer me?'