"Oh, I knew he had cared for someone," she breathed, "But it
couldn't--it couldn't have been me!"
"Yes," Sir Eustace said slowly. "You and none other. You wonder if it's
true--how I know. He's an awful ass, as I said before, one of the few
supreme fools who never think of themselves. I knew that he was caught
all right ages back in Switzerland, and--being a low hound of mean
instincts--I set to work to cut him out."
"Oh!" murmured Dinah. "That was just what I did with Rose de Vigne."
His mouth twisted a little. "It's a funny world, Dinah," he said. "Our
little game has cost us both something. I got too near the candle myself,
and the scorch was pretty sharp while it lasted. Well, to get back to my
story. Scott saw that I was beginning to give you indigestion, and--being
as I mentioned before several sorts of a fool--he tackled me upon the
subject and swore that if I didn't put an end to the game, he would put
you on your guard against me, tell you in fact the precise species of
rotter that I chanced to be. I was naturally annoyed by his interference.
Anyone would have been. I gave him the kicking he deserved. That was low
of me, wasn't it?" as she made a quick movement of shrinking. "You won't
forgive me for that, or for what came after. The very next day--to spite
the little beast--I proposed to you."
Dinah's eyes were fiercely bright. "I wish I'd known!" she said.
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