"You make me feel--a little beast!" The words spoke themselves, straight out of her conscience. "I can't fix a time yet, because--if I'd explained to you properly you mightn't have decided as you have. And it's no use trying any more. I can't do it. Oh!" (as she saw his face flush again, and pale to a sickly brown) "perhaps I see what was in your head at first--what's come back there now. But I'm not so much of a beast as that. My wishing to marry someone has nothing to do with the past. No, the reason's all mixed up with the future. You could never guess. I could never explain. And I couldn't let you marry me unless everything had been explained. I thought for a minute I could--and I wanted to--but I find I'm not like that. Tony--Lord Severance--must explain. Yes, of course. When I've telephoned--no, written to him--he will do it. I haven't really spoken to him of you yet. He doesn't even know that--you care about me. If I make an appointment, will you call at the Waldorf, where he is staying?" "No!" Garth exploded. "That I will not do. I'll see Severance, if you insist. I'll keep an appointment at any time. But it must be at my hotel. I'm damned if I'll call on him!" CHAPTER XI EVERY MAN HAS HIS PRICE The note Marise meant to write was not written; for, as the door of the suite shut behind John Garth, Mrs. Sorel came to the girl with news. "Dear child, I promised you shouldn't be disturbed, whatever happened, but Tony has been telephoning for the sixth time to-day. Poor boy! He's very anxious about you. Don't look so cynical! If your face should ever settle into lines like that, your beauty would be gone! This time he wanted to know if you're better for your long sleep, and if you can see him." "No, I can't, mother! Not till something's decided. I simply can't act to-night if I have to go through another scene with him." "Oh, I'm not suggesting it, pet! I merely wanted to know what I should say to poor Tony. I told him that I'd call him up and give him his answer when you were free." Marise started. "Did you say who was here with me?" "Ye-es, I thought it would be best. I imagined you must be very sure the man was--the one we're in search of." The girl shivered. "Marise in Search of a Husband! We never expected it would come to that with me, did we, Mums? But anyhow, I hadn't to search far. That's one consolation! I was snapped up the minute I appeared in the show window." "Well, Tony was wrong about that Garth man, then!" "Yes, he was wrong. I must write and let him know why Garth came--unless you told him why?" "I said only what I dared say through the telephone. You know how careful I am of anything that concerns you. What I told him was, 'Major G----' (not even Garth!) 'has come to talk over that proposition you thought he wouldn't accept. His staying so long makes me fancy he may be accepting after all.' That is every word."