“She was ill-treated and insulted—in fact, was accused of taking that which did not belong to her.”
“Enough, sir! No person with any such record can ever become allied to my family!” burst forth Lord Dunforth, rising from his chair in wrath.
“But, sir, let me explain——”
“No, sir!” he thundered; “not another word! I am astonished and disappointed in you, Adrian, that you could so demean yourself as to desire to marry any one so far beneath you!”
“She is not beneath me,” began the indignant lover, hotly.
“Not another word, Adrian, if you please, on the subject, unless you wish to incur my stern displeasure. You, the future Earl of Dunforth, marry a person accused of theft! Never!” and he paced the floor, with angry strides.
Suddenly he wheeled upon his grandson, and demanded:
“May I ask, have you made proposals to this very estimable person?”
“I have, my lord.” The manly eyes blazed dangerously at this almost insulting question, while his hands worked nervously at the biting sarcasm of his grandfather’s words.
“Fool!”