47617    But he has never let us get together, and it was only to-day for the first time that I saw a chance of having a few words with her alone.

47618    She was glad to meet me, but when she did it was not love that she would talk about, and she wouldn't let me talk about it either if she could have stopped it.

47619    She kept coming back to it that this was a place of danger, and that she would never be happy until I had left it.

47620    I told her that since I had seen her I was in no hurry to leave it, and that if she really wanted me to go, the only way to work it was for her to arrange to go with me.

47621    With that I offered in as many words to marry her, but before she could answer down came this brother of hers, running at us with a face on him like a madman.

47622    He was just white with rage, and those light eyes of his were blazing with fury.

47623    What was I doing with the lady?

47624    How dared I offer her attentions which were distasteful to her?

47625    Did I think that because I was a baronet I could do what I liked?

47626    If he had not been her brother I should have known better how to answer him.

47627    As it was I told him that my feelings towards his sister were such as I was not ashamed of, and that I hoped that she might honour me by becoming my wife.

47628    That seemed to make the matter no better, so then I lost my temper too, and I answered him rather more hotly than I should, perhaps, considering that she was standing by.

47629    So it ended by his going off with her, as you saw, and here am I as badly puzzled a man as any in this county.

47630    Just tell me what it all means, Watson, and I'll owe you more than ever I can hope to pay.'

47631    I tried one or two explanations, but, indeed, I was completely puzzled myself.