Mr. Medlicott with difficulty restrained himself from interrupting and the Russian went on.

“The situation of betrothed is altogether different:  in it there have merely been promises exchanged, promises, for the most part, which no man or woman can honestly engage with any certainty to keep, because feeling toward the other is not within his or her control—­both are promising upon a sentiment, not a reality.”

“I totally disagree with you,” Eustace Medlicott answered angrily, “when men and women make promises to one another they should have wills strong enough to keep them.”

“For what sensible reason?” Count Roumovski asked.  “In a case where the happiness of both is involved, and where no damage has been incurred by either—­”

Mr. Medlicott clasped his hands convulsively but he did not reply—­so the Russian went on: 

“Surely, you must see that a woman should be free to marry—­that is, to give herself and her power to become a mother where she loves—­not to be forced to bestow these sacred gifts when her spirit is unwilling—­just because she has made the initial mistake of affiancing herself to a man, often through others’ influence, who she discovers afterward is distasteful to her.  Cannot you realize that it is wise for himself as well as for her that this man release her, before a life of long misery begins for them both?”

Mr. Medlicott never analyzed reasons, and never listened to other people’s logic, and if he had any of his own he was too angry to use it.  He was simply conscious now that a foreigner had insulted him and appeared to have stolen the affections of his betrothed, and his sacred calling precluded all physical retaliation—­which, at the moment, was the only kind that would have given him any satisfaction.  He prepared to stalk furiously from the room after he should receive an answer to an all-important question.

“The whole thing is disgraceful,” he said, “and I shall inform Miss Rawson’s uncle and aunt of your highly insulting words to me, that they may guard her from further importunity upon your part.  But I should like to know, in fairness, how far you are stating you have been able to persuade my fiancee to agree to your view?”

“I am sorry you should have become so heated and angry,” Count Roumovski returned, “because it stops all sensible discussion.  I deeply regret having been forced to inflict pain upon you, but if you would give yourself time to think calmly you would see that, however unfortunate the fact may be for you of Miss Rawson’s affections having become fixed on me—­these things are no one’s fault and beyond human control—­Miss Rawson has left the breaking off of her engagement to you in my hands, and has decided that she desires to marry me, as I desire to marry her, as soon as she is free.”