"Thanks, old man," he returned, rather awkwardly. "But it's a dead
secret, really; I suppose Lady Constance told you?"
Leroy frowned.
"Yes," he said simply, "Why not?"
"Oh, no reason at all," said Lord Standon, flushing like a boy; "only
it's got to be kept quiet, you know--my affairs are in such a beastly
state."
"I wonder you----" commenced Leroy.
"Dared to ask her," put in Standon, laughing a little confusedly. "Yes,
it was a bit of cheek on my part, but 'faint heart never won fair lady,'
you know, and by Jove! if I hadn't, some other lucky devil might have
slipped in and carried her off by sheer force!"
Leroy winced; for he himself would have endeavoured to "slip in and
carry her off" had it not been for his friend.
"I don't see the need of secrecy," he said coldly. "Have you spoken to
her guardian?" meaning, of course, Lord Barminster.
Unfortunately, to Lord Standon, being in love, there was only one woman
in the world, and therefore only one guardian, and that one, her father,
the Earl of Croywood.
"Good gracious, no!" he exclaimed. "He's such an old curmudgeon--that
until I get over that beastly race----" He broke off, scarlet with
confusion.
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