He wondered whether Christina's insistence was the result of a general interest in Roderick's antecedents or of a particular suspicion.

He looked at her; she was looking at him a little askance, waiting for his answer.

As Roderick had said nothing about his engagement to the Cavaliere, it was probable that with this beautiful girl he had not been more explicit.

And yet the thing was announced, it was public; that other girl was happy in it, proud of it.

Rowland felt a kind of dumb anger rising in his heart.