"I'll not give her up to that fellow Brenderby!" he said fiercely. "It's more than flesh and blood can bear."
"Assuredly. But will you give her up to me?"
James turned to stare at him.
"You? But she is to wed Brenderby!"
"Ah, but no! that is at an end. Brenderby releases her. He is not so bad a man as you think. En effet, I like him."
"I loathe the sight of him, drawling fop!"
"To-day I have seen him in another light. But that is not what I have to say. Cleone does not wish to marry you, mon enfant, and it is churlish to persist."
"I know she'll never marry me," answered James gloomily. "I only held her to her word because I thought she'd have Brenderby if I did not."
"I understand. You'll release her—for me?"
"I suppose so. Why did you say naught last night?"