We decided not to let anyone know until a few weeks before we could marry, as I didn't care to have my engagement gossipped about, for months on end.

There were reasons why--more than one: but the man of all others whom I didn't want to know the truth found out, or, rather, suspected what had happened, the very day when Raoul and I came to an understanding--Count Godensky of the Russian Embassy.

He called, and was let in by mistake while Raoul was with me, and, just as he must have seen by our faces that there was something to suspect, so I saw by his that he did suspect.

Oh, a hateful person! I've refused him three times.

There are some men so vain that they can never believe a woman really means to say 'no' to them.