Horatia was regarding him keenly. “D-didn’t he mind?”
“Now I come to think of it,” said the Earl pensively, “I am afraid I forgot to ask him.”
She came a little nearer. “Marcus, did you m-make him give it to you?”
“No,” replied the Earl. “I—er—took it.”
“T-took it? But why did he let you?”
“He really had no choice in the matter,” said his lordship.
She drew a long breath. “You m-mean you took it by f-force? And didn’t he do anything? What became of him?”
“I imagine that he went home,” said the Earl calmly.
“W-went home! Well, I n-never heard of anything so poor-spirited!” exclaimed Horatia, with disgust.
“He could hardly do anything else,” said the Earl. “Perhaps I ought to explain that the gentleman had the—er—misfortune to fall into the lily-pond.”