"Mrs. Rothsay states that the declaration was erroneous, and that no such engagement ever has been or ever could be made between us." "How dare she say that? How dare she try to break off with you in this scandalous manner? But she shall not! She shall keep faith with you or she is no granddaughter of mine! I will have nothing to do with false women! How did this breach occur? Tell me all about it! Fabian--Clarence! Go about your business. I want to have some private conversation with the duke." The two younger men, thus summarily dismissed, nodded to the visitor and left the room, glad enough to go down below to the saloon and get something to eat and drink. "Now, then, sir, what's the row with my granddaughter?" demanded the Iron King, wheeling his chair around to face his visitor. "There is no 'row,'" said the young man, with the faintest possible hint of disgust in his tone and manner. "Mrs. Rothsay rejects me, positively, absolutely. She repudiates the announcement of our betrothal as unauthorized and erroneous." "But you know, as we all know, that she was engaged to you! Yes; and she shall keep her engagement. I'll see to that!" "Pardon me, Mr. Rockharrt, I am grieved to say that you have made a mistake. The lady was right. There was no engagement, between Mrs. Rothsay and myself at the time you made that announcement, nor has there been one since, nor, I fear, can there ever be." "Sir!" exclaimed the Iron King, rising in his wrath. "Did you not come to this country for the express purpose of asking my granddaughter's hand in marriage? Did I not promise her hand to you in marriage?" "You did, provi--" "Then if that did not constitute an engagement, I do not know what does--that is all. But some people have very loose ideas about honor. You ask the hand of my granddaughter; I bestow it on you, and announce the fact to my family." "Pardon me, Mr. Rockharrt, you promised me the hand of your granddaughter, provided she should be willing to give it to me." "'Provided' nothing of the sort, sir. I gave her hand unconditionally, absolutely, and announced the betrothal to the family." "But, my dear Mr. Rockharrt, the lady's consent is a most necessary factor in such a case as this," urged the young man, who began to think that the despotic egotism of the Iron King had in these later years grown into a monomania, deceiving him into the delusion that his power over family and dependants was that of an absolute monarch over his subjects. This opinion was confirmed by the next words of the autocrat. "Of course her consent would follow my act. That was taken for granted." "But, sir, her consent did not follow your act. Quite the contrary; for my rejection followed it. It is of no use to multiply words. The affair is at an end. I have bidden good-by to Mrs. Rothsay. I am here to say good-by to you." "You cannot mean it!"