Lord Melburne had been sitting at his desk writing a letter. He stared at Clarinda with raised eyebrows and then rose slowly to his feet.
But before he could speak, Clarinda cried, her breath coming in broken gasps,
“You – lied to me! You have – broken your promise. I did not – believe – you could be so despicable – so two-faced – after what you said last night. But you – lied to me and now he is coming here – he is on his way – I swear to you I will – not do it whatever you may – say to me – I will not, I will not marry him!”
She paused for lack of breath and Lord Melburne, staring at her in amazement, then said slowly in his most uncompromising voice,
“May I enquire the reason for this incomprehensible flapdoodle?”
“He is – coming to – you now,” Clarinda reiterated. “He has it – all
