"My lord, I do not understand you." "Yet I speak plainly.

What is it but a clandestine procedure to take advantage of a guardian's absence and beguile a young girl into a marriage beneath her ?" "There has been nothing clandestine in my conduct toward Lady Isabel Vane; there shall be nothing but honor in my conduct toward Lady Isabel Carlyle.

Your lordship has been misinformed." "I have not been informed at all," retorted the earl.

"I was allowed to learn this from the public papers--I, the only relative of Lady Isabel." "When I proposed for Lady Isabel--" "But a month ago," sarcastically interrupted the earl.
"But a month ago," calmly repeated Mr.Carlyle, "my first action, after Isabel accepted me, was to write to you.

But that I imagine you may not have received the letter, by stating you first heard of our marriage through the papers, I should say, the want of courtesy lay on your lordship's side for having vouchsafed me no reply to it." "What were the contents of the letter ?" "I stated what had occurred, mentioning what I was able to do in the way of settlements, and also that both Isabel and myself wished the ceremony to take place as soon as might be." "And pray where did you address the letter ?" "Lady Mount Severn could not give me the address.