“Jacquelin Gray!” Steve sprang to his feet, and the two young men stood facing each other, their faces white and their eyes blazing. Jacquelin spoke first.
“As Blair Cary has no brother to protect her, I will do it. I never thought it would have to be against you.”
“Blair Cary? Protect her against me? In God’s name, what do you mean?”
“You know.”
“I swear I do not!”
Jacquelin turned from him with a gesture of contempt; but Steve seized him roughly.
“By Heaven! you shall tell me. I feel as if the earth were giving way before me.”
Jacquelin shook him off, but faced him, his whole expression full of scorn.
“Haven’t you been engaged to—engaged to—or as good as engaged to—or, at least, in love with Blair Cary for years?”
Steve gazed at him for a moment with a puzzled look on his face, which gave place the next instant to one of inexpressible amusement, and then, with a shove which sent Jacquelin spinning across the room, flung himself into his chair and burst into a ringing laugh.