Ch. It is a tempting offer; I am not proof against it. We all have our price, and that is mine. Proceed.
Bel. Miss Treherne—Belinda—whom I love so dearly, won’t have anything to say to me.
Ch. It does her credit. She’s a very superior girl.
Bel. It’s all through you, Cheviot. She declares that the mutual declaration you made to protect her from McGillicuddy amounts to a Scotch marriage.
Ch. What!!!
Bel. She declares she is your wife. She professes to love me as fondly as ever; but a stern sense of duty to you forbids her to hold any communication with me.
Ch. Oh, but this is absurd, you know!
Bel. Of course it is; but what’s to be done? You left with Symperson immediately after making the declaration. As soon as she found you were gone she implored me to tell her your name and address. Of course I refused, and she quitted me, telling me that she would devote her life to finding you out.
Ch. But this is simple madness. I can’t have it! This day, too, of all others! If she’d claimed me last week, or even yesterday, I wouldn’t have minded, for she’s a devilish fine woman; but if she were to turn up now—! (Aloud.) Belvawney, my dear friend, tell me what to do—I’ll do anything.