Have you any reason to offer, or excuse to urge, why I should not ask this young woman to leave at daybreak ?" "I have no excuse, sir," Julian answered, "I certainly have a reason." "Name it ?" "Because you would be putting an affront upon the lady who has promised to become my wife.

I am quite aware that her presence in my sitting room is unusual, but under the circumstances I do not feel called upon to offer a general explanation.

I shall say nothing beyond the fact that a single censorious remark will be considered by me as an insult to my affianced wife." The Princess abandoned her chorus of mournful sounds and dried her eyes.
Lord Waltenby was speechless.
"But why all this mystery ?" the Princess asked pitifully.

"It is a great event, this.

Why did you not tell me, Catherine, when you came to my room ?" "There has been some little misunderstanding," Julian explained.