“I have not the remotest conjecture.”
“Oh, dear, and I was used to think you so clever! The thing is, you must know what George is, Bella! They say he never misses, and, oh, he must not kill Sherry, he shall not kill him!”
Miss Milborne shrugged her shoulders. “I imagine there can be little fear of either killing the other.”
“So I thought, but Gil and Ferdy have been with George all the morning, and they say there is no moving him! He likes fighting duels — isn’t it odd? They say that when he is in one of these tiresome moods there is no doing anything with him! Isabella, I must stop this dreadful meeting!”
“I am sure I do not know how you will contrive to do so.”
“That is why I have come to you. Isabella, though he will not listen to Gil or Ferdy, George will listen to you! Oh, will you be so very obliging as to send for him, and make him promise he won’t fight Sherry? Please, Isabella, will you do that for me?”
Miss Milborne rose to her feet somewhat suddenly. “I send for George?” she repeated, in stupefied tones “Have you taken leave of your senses?”
“No, of course I have not! You must know that there can be nothing he would not do for your sake! You have only to beg him — ”
“I would sooner die an old maid!”
Startled by the suppressed passion in the Beauty’s voice, Hero could only blink at her in surprise. Miss Milborne pressed her hands to her hot cheeks. “Upon my word, I had not thought it possible! So I am to send for George, and to supplicate him not to engage in a duel! After he has been making shameless love to you! Nothing — nothing could prevail upon me to do it! I am astonished you should ask it of me! Pray tell me why you, who are on such intimate terms with him, do not supplicate George yourself! I am persuaded your words must carry quite as much weight with him as mine. More, I dare say!”