"Accept my congratulations, madame, on the finding of your beautiful daughter, my promised wife!"
The lady, with a quick start of surprise, as if she had but that moment become aware of his presence, turned and looked at the speaker.
His words had fallen like hail-stones on her heart.
She was one of the proudest women on earth, and her large dark eyes scanned Clifford Standish with cold inquiry.
He had just announced himself as the betrothed of her daughter, and the cold glance of her eyes asked distinctly if he were worthy of that honor.
There was a moment of breathless silence, and the actor looked at Geraldine with eyes whose veiled menace defied her to deny his claim. She, remembering his deadly threats, paled and shuddered.
She could not afford to anger him yet. She realized that fully.
The lady, after transfixing the daring actor with one steely glance, looked at her daughter.
"Is this true?" she asked, in displeased surprise.
"It is true," faltered Geraldine, without daring to look up; and again Standish, encouraged by success, interposed: