"Are you indeed, Mr. Vereker—you surprise me!"
"To marry her whenever she will, sir."
"Permit me to remark that you are perhaps a little tardy."
"None the less I am here, sir!"
"Your condescension, Mr. Vereker, is somewhat overpowering, such magnanimity I find vastly touching. But Diana, I am assured, had no idea of permitting you thus to immolate yourself on the altar of duty."
"That, my lord, by your favour, I mean to learn from her own lips—at once."
"Impossible, sir!" he retorted, smiling bitterly. "Quite—quite impossible."
"Impossible, my lord—impossible? Pray what—sir, what do you mean?" I stammered.
"That if indeed you are minded—a little late in the day perhaps—but if—after very mature deliberation—you at last think fit to fulfil your pledge to Diana, it will of course be necessary that you first discover her present whereabouts."
"Is she not here at Wyvelstoke with you, my lord?"