"I must correct you on one point," Forbes said stiffly. "It is true the discovery that Miss Kent was not what I supposed her took me by surprise and I was both hurt and angry. But the engagement between Miss Studley and myself was broken finally and irrevocably because I defended—partly at least—the course Miss Kent had taken." He hesitated before adding, "If you really wish to marry her—"
"Oh, to hell with your 'ifs!' I've been on my knees to her from the first minute I saw her. I'd marry her if she were Hephzibah Diggs."
"I was only going to say, Ridgeley, that if you are in earnest, you are pretty sure to win out. I can hardly imagine any woman's continuing to turn you down."
Warren did not appear touched by the obvious sincerity of this tribute. He glowered at the other man ill-naturedly.
"I dare say she would have married me but for one thing. I came on the scene too late."
"Too late?"
"Another man got ahead of me. She couldn't love me because she loved him."
"Do you mean that she's engaged?"
"Damn you!" Warren shouted furiously. "Don't put on those unconscious airs with me. You know well enough what man I mean, and you know whether you're engaged to her or not."
"You're out of your mind, Warren. You're talking like an insane man."