But Marjolaine ran into the passage. "Jack!" she cried, much alarmed. "Oh! What is it?"
"Come out! Come out!" cried Jack, seizing her hand and dragging her hastily down the steps, to Nanette's horror and indignation.
"Ah, mais!" the latter exclaimed, "Oú est donc Madame?" and went in to look for her.
Jack was incoherent. "Sternroyd!" he gasped. "He had the licence! Had it! We were to be married to-morrow! And he 's gone and given it—to whom do you think?—to my father!"
"Oh!" exclaimed poor Marjolaine, "then all is over!"
"No!" he cried, with magnificent determination. "All 's to begin again! Take me to your mother. Then I 'll take you to my father."
Lord Otford and Madame Lachesnais had come out of the summer-house.
"That is what you should have done at first, sir!" said Lord Otford.
"Father!" cried Jack, amazed.
With a half-frightened cry of "Maman!" Marjolaine threw herself in her mother's arms.