"It is a matter on which I could not think."

"But there is this," says Hardinge. "You will forward my cause
rather than your brother's, will you not? This is an extraordinary
demand to make I know--but--I also know _you."_

"I would rather see her dead than married to my brother," says the
professor, slowly, distinctly.

"And----?" questions Hardinge.

The professor hesitates a moment, and then:

"What do you want me to do?" asks he.

"Do? 'Say a good word for me' to her; that is the old way of putting
it, isn't it? and it expresses all I mean. She reveres you, even
if----"

"If what?"

"She revolts from your power over her. She is high-spirited, you
know," says Hardinge. "That is one of her charms, in my opinion.
What I want you to do, Curzon, is to--to see her at once--not
to-day, she is going to an afternoon at Lady Swanley's--but
to-morrow, and to--you know,"--nervously--"to make a formal proposal
to her."

The professor throws back his head and laughs aloud. Such a strange
laugh.