"I did," replied the bishop.
"Augustin, do you remember that Penelope's mother loved houses with moats? I think the bishop may be right. I tremble with nervousness."
She had more reason to tremble in a moment, for a big motor-car shaved them and scared the horse.
"Perhaps—" she cried.
"No," said Augustin, "it's Plant and Williams and Carew!"
The duchess gasped. And before she could say another word, another car swept by them.
"Perhaps—" she cried.
"No," said the bishop; "in spite of goggles, I recognize the marquis and Mr. Gordon and Mr. Austin de Vere. This is very remarkable, and not a little annoying. We shall all descend upon Penelope at once, and I fear it will somewhat disturb her. I should have much preferred to see her quietly in order to bring her to a just sense of her peculiar, and our painful, position."
When they got to the house, they found all the lovers but Bramber assembled at the gates. If it hadn't been for the illness of the Earl of Pulborough, he would have been there, they knew.
"Oh, which is it?" moaned Titania. "They all said they were married to her, and I know it's none of 'em."