"I don't see that they make the slightest difference," answered Constance, her eyebrows raised. "If you had intended a genuine offer of marriage--yes, perhaps. But as all you meant was to ask me to save the situation, with no harm to anybody, and the certainty of giving great pleasure to our friend--" "You see it in that light?" cried Lashmar, flinging away his hat. "You really think I should be justified? You are not offended?" "I credit myself with a certain measure of common sense," answered Constance. "Then you will allow me to tell Lady Ogram that there is an engagement?" "You may tell her so, if you like." He seized her hand, and pressed his lips upon it. But, scarce had he done so, when Constance drew it brusquely away. "There is no need to play our comedy in private," she said, with cold reproof. "And I hope that at all times you will use the discretion that is owing to me." "If I don't, I shall deserve to fall into worse difficulties than ever," cried Lashmar. "As, for instance, to find yourself under the necessity of making your mock contract a real one--which would be sufficiently tragic." Constance spoke with a laugh, and thereupon, before Dyce could make any rejoinder, walked from the room. The philosopher stood embarrassed. "What did she mean by that?" he asked himself. He had never felt on very solid ground in his dealings with Constance; had never felt sure in his reading of her character, his interpretation of her ways and looks and speeches. An odd thing that he should have been betrayed by his sense of triumphant diplomacy into that foolish excess. And he remembered that it was the second such indiscretion, though this time, happily, not so compromising as his youthful extravagance at Alverholme. What if Lady Ogram, feeling that her end drew near, called for their speedy marriage? Was it the thought of such possibility that had supplied Constance with her sharp-edged jest? If she could laugh, the risk did not seem to her very dreadful. And to him? He could not make up his mind on the point. CHAPTER XV Lord Dymchurch was at a critical moment of his life.