Sir Roland stared at her.
"'That woman'?" he said in surprised indignation. "Whom do you mean by 'that woman'?"
"Connie Stapleton, father," she answered, looking him full in the eyes. "Have you the least idea who and what she is?"
Sir Roland gazed at her aghast. Then, obviously controlling himself:
"I know that she has done me the honour of accepting my offer of marriage," he replied, with cold dignity. "More than that, I don't ask to know; her circumstances don't interest me; my fortune is ample for both."
Dulcie made a gesture of impatience.
"For goodness' sake, father," she exclaimed, "how can you talk like that? Connie Stapleton is"
She turned to me abruptly.
"Oh, Mike," she said in a tone of great vexation, "tell him everythingI can't."
I cleared my throat to gain time to collect my thoughts. Sir Roland's rather dull stare was set upon my face inquiringly, though his expression betrayed astonishment and keen annoyance.