"
"Well, you can tell him," cried Jocelyn hotly, "that never, under
any circumstances whatever, would I dream even of the possibility of
marrying him."
And the two men were alone.
Maurice Gordon gazed blankly at the closed door.
"How was I to know she'd take it like that?" he asked helplessly.
And for once the polished gentleman of the world forgot himself--
carried away by a sudden unreasoning anger which surprised him
almost as much as it did Maurice Gordon.
"Why, you damned fool," said Jack, "any idiot would have known that
she would take it like that. How could she do otherwise? You, her
brother, ought to know that to a girl like Miss Gordon the idea of
marrying such a low brute as Durnovo could only be repugnant.
Durnovo--why, he is not good enough to sweep the floor that she has
stood upon! He's not fit to speak to her; and you go on letting him
come to the house, sickening her with his beastly attentions!
You're not capable of looking after a lady! I would have kicked
Durnovo through that very window myself, only"--he paused, recalling
himself with a little laugh--"only it was not my business."
Maurice Gordon sat down forlornly. He tapped his boot with his
cane.
"Oh, it's very well for you," he answered; "but I'm not a free
agent. _I_ can't afford to make an enemy of Durnovo.
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