Dick strode forward, and, catching her by the wrist, swung her away from Banstead, his face aflame with sudden passion. "No, by God, you shan't!" Banstead retreated a few paces, scared out of his life. Mrs. Ware sought Austin's protecting arm. "What does all this mean? I don't understand it." Austin led her to the door. "I'll see nothing unpleasant happens, dear. You had better go and tell them to keep back dinner yet a few minutes." His voice and authority soothed her, and she left the room, casting a terrified glance at Dick, standing threateningly over Lord Banstead, who had muttered something about Viviette being free to do as she liked. "She can do what she likes, but, by God! she shan't marry you." "I'm of age," declared Viviette fiercely. "I marry whom I choose." "Of course she can," said Banstead. "Are you taking leave of your senses?" "How dare you ask a pure girl to marry you?" cried Dick furiously. "You, who have come straight here from--" Banstead found some spirit. "Shut up, Ware," he interrupted. "Play the game. You've no right to say that." "I have the right," cried Dick. "Hush!" said Austin, interposing. "There's no need to prolong this painful discussion. To-morrow--as Viviette's guardian--" "To-morrow?" Dick shouted. "Where shall I be to-morrow? Away from here--unable to defend her--unable to say a word." "If you said a thousand words," said Viviette, "they wouldn't make an atom of difference. Lord Banstead has asked me to marry him. I have accepted him openly. What dare you say to it?" "Yes," said Banstead. "She has made no bones about it. I've asked her five times. Now she accepts me. What have you to say to it?" "I say she shan't marry you," said Dick, glaring at the other. "Steady, steady, Dick," said Austin warningly. But Dick shook his warning angrily aside, and Austin saw that, once again that day, Dick was desperate. "Not while I live shall she marry you. Don't I know your infernal beastly life?" "Now, look here," said Banstead, at bay. "What the deuce have you got to do with my affairs?" "Everything. Do you think she loves you, cares for you, honours you, respects you?" Viviette faced him with blazing eyes. "I do," she said defiantly. "It's a lie," cried Dick. "It's you that are lying now. Heaven and earth! I've suffered enough to-day--I thought I had been through hell--but it's nothing to this. She loves me--do you hear me?--me--me--me--and I can't marry her--and I don't care a damn who knows the reason." "Stop, man," said Austin. "Let me be. She shall know the truth. Everyone shall know the truth. At any rate, it will save her from this." "I will do it quietly, later, Dick."