"Yes."

"Well, it turned out that Miss Mandeville was in the arbor and overheard a
part of what passed between us."

"The devil she did!"

"Yes, but only enough to excite her suspicions that there was something in
the wind--nothing definite or satisfactory, so that we may consider
ourselves safe on that score."

"But, between you and me, Duffel, I don't like these suspicions; they are
apt to lead to something worse."

"True; but in this instance I think such will not be the result. However, I
must be frank with you, and I hope, if I have gone too far in any point,
you will pardon me, for I did the very best that could be done under the
circumstances, I think. As I said, Miss Mandeville heard a few words that
passed between us at the time referred to, and when, a short time
afterward, her father urged upon her the propriety of accepting me as a
suitor for her hand, she must needs tell him of this little incident!"

"Worse and worse!"

"Not so fast. I know it is bad, and I knew then that something of a
decisive kind must be done in order to relieve myself from the dilemma into
which this little untoward circumstance had placed me. I remembered that on
that occasion you were somewhat disguised, so that in your natural state,
or in any other disguise you might wish to assume, it would be impossible