I am a quiet little humdrum woman; I have rigid rules and I keep them.

One of them is not to have visitors in the small hours--especially clever men like you.

So good night!" Decidedly, the Baroness was incisive; and though Acton bade her good night and departed, he was still a good deal mystified.
The next day Clifford Wentworth came to see Lizzie, and Acton, who was at home and saw him pass through the garden, took note of the circumstance.

He had a natural desire to make it tally with Madame M; auunster's account of Clifford's disaffection; but his ingenuity, finding itself unequal to the task, resolved at last to ask help of the young man's candor.

He waited till he saw him going away, and then he went out and overtook him in the grounds.
"I wish very much you would answer me a question," Acton said.