"No--I--I--something--else--I can't tell you! Anyway--Sir Deryk took me to this room, and--and taught me to--to dice--yes, I know it was horrid! And--and I lost my rose to him, and when he--was taking it, he broke the string of my locket, and he wouldn't give it me, but said he must see what was inside, and I _couldn't_ let him! I _couldn't_!" "What was inside?" asked Sir Maurice. "For heaven's sake, don't ask her that!" begged Lady Malmerstoke. "It sets her off into floods of tears!" "Aunt, _please_! And--and so I played him--for it--and I lost and had to--to kiss him--for it. Don't, don't look at me! And then--and then _he_ came--with James--and saw! What he must _think_ of me! And I said that he--Oh, he must--" "Who is 'he'?" asked Sir Maurice innocently. He watched a tell-tale blush steal up under Cleone's fingers. "Mr.--Mr. Jettan--I--he--saw me kiss--Sir Deryk! Then--then--I think, to spare me--Sir Deryk said I was his betrothed wife. I could not say I was not, could I? It was too dreadful! And Phil--Mr. Jettan congratulated us! But James suddenly said he was going to marry me because I had said yes to him--by mistake! Of course I said I was not, but he wouldn't release me from my word, and nor would Sir Deryk! Then--then he--Ph--I mean Mr. Jettan--just bowed and went away, but I could see what he--thought of--of me. Oh, what shall I do? Neither will let me go! I am betrothed to two gentlemen, and--oh, _what_ shall I do?" Sir Maurice took a pinch of snuff. A smile hovered about his mouth. He shut the box with a snap. "It seems, my dear, that the situation calls for a third gentleman," he said, and picked up his hat. Cleone sprang to her feet. "Oh--oh, what are you going to do?" she cried. Sir Maurice walked to the door. "It needs a masterful hand to extricate you from your delicate position," he said. "I go in search of such a hand." Cleone ran to him, clasping his arm. "No, no, no! Oh, for heaven's sake, Sir Maurice, stop!" He laid a hand over her clutching fingers. "My dear, do you want a scandal?" "No, oh no! But I must persuade James!" "And do you want to marry this Brenderby?" "I--am going to marry him." "Cleone, answer me! Do you want to marry him?" "I don't want to marry anyone! I wish I were dead!" "Well, child, you are not dead. I refuse to see you fall into Brenderby's clutches, and I refuse to countenance the scandal that would arise if you rejected him. I am too old to serve you, but I know of one who is not." "Sir Maurice, I implore you, do not speak to him! You don't understand! You--Oh, stop, stop!" Sir Maurice had disengaged himself. He opened the door. "You need not fear that the third gentleman will cause you any annoyance, my dear. I can vouch for his discretion." Cleone tried to hold him back. "Sir Maurice, you don't understand! You must not ask Ph--your son to--to--help me! I--I didn't tell you all! I--Oh, come back!" The door closed behind Sir Maurice.