He shrugged his shoulders, he raised his hand in polite protestation.
‘Forced you!’ he exclaimed. ‘Ah, but you use hard words, my dear Madeline. I employ force to no one; certainly not to one so esteemed. If your memory is good, you must know that I merely asked an interview. You were gracious enough not only to grant it, but to name also our place of meeting.’
She looked him steadily in the face, and her lip curled contemptuously.
‘Will you oblige me by answering my question?’ Again he smiled, but while he did so his face was by no means pleasant to see.
‘I will make my best endeavours, madame.’
‘First, tell me this: when you went to that house last night were you certain of meeting me there?’
‘I most certainly hoped to have the pleasure of meeting you. I have lived in this strange world long enough to know that nothing is certain.’
‘Did you know that I had married an honourable man?’
‘I knew that; yes.’
‘And yet you made up your mind to thrust yourself upon me?’