"You need not fear that the third gentleman will cause you any annoyance, my dear. I can vouch for his discretion."
Cleone tried to hold him back.
"Sir Maurice, you don't understand! You must not ask Ph—your son to—to—help me! I—I didn't tell you all! I—Oh, come back!"
The door closed behind Sir Maurice.
"A very prompt, wise man," commented Lady Malmerstoke. "Now I am to be baulked of the scandal. Hey-dey!"
Cleone paced to and fro.
"I can't face him! I can't, I can't! What must he think of me? What must he think? Aunt, you don't know all!"
"Oh, yes, I do," retorted her ladyship.
"No, no, you do not! Philip asked me to marry him—and—I refused! I—I—told him—I would not marry a man with a tarnished reputation! I—I said that—and worse! I accused him of trifling and—and—oh, it's too awful! That he should have been the one to see! How he must scorn me. Oh, Aunt, Aunt, can't you say something?"
"Ay, one thing. That you will have to be very humble to Master Philip. At least, he was never betrothed twice in one night."