"Yes," bellowed her Grace, "I am an innocent lady. Oh, Southborough!" And she proceeded to explain the cause of her situation. "He wouldn't speak for me. He fled—the base one fled!" she shouted pathetically, pointing at the paragon. "He's not a man!"
"No more am I!" cried Chloe, who had been engaged in whispering with the faithful Marriner, and who now came forward blushing very much and trying to look very composed.
"Chloe!" said Mrs. Verulam.
"Daisy, it's all up! Huskinson knows everything, and is just coming up the road. He traced me to Park Lane, and Francis has told him all. He is staying at the Elephant and Drum, and met Marriner by chance. He forgives me. And I trust you will," she added, turning to the Duke and Duchess.
They listened to her succeeding remarks with dropped jaws.
"This gentleman a lady!" cried Mr. Rodney, pressing his hand to his heart and sitting down in a bed of stinging-nettles.
"This man a woman!" shrieked the Duchess. "But then," she added, staring at Mrs. Verulam, "you—you are——"
"Respectable," said Mrs. Verulam, with a rather malicious intonation.
"Mr. Van Adam a female!" her Grace reiterated. "But—but—Pearl—I shall have to afford to send her to Carlsbad this summer, after all, unless Mr. Ingerstall——" She paused abruptly. "Southborough," she cried, "come away!"