"You'll very much oblige me."
"Enough. What prompts me to this midnight deed, 'twere bootless now to ask, and idle to reveal. Therefore to my tale. You are in love with Aurora—with Miss Tinsel?"
"By what right——"
"Spare your reproaches. I am in love with her too!"
"You?"
"Is that so strange? Long ere you crossed our path I knew and loved her. But this is neither here nor there."
"I should think not."
"Professionally," continued the "Demon," with great dignity, "she is, of course, my inferior. Socially—well, you know, I think the damning family secret——"
"Whatever that may be, it is no sin of hers. I think you may wisely leave it a secret—so far, that is, as to omit crying it on the housetops."
"Save to yourself and Miss De Montague, no hint of the tragedy has passed my lips. But to the business between us——"