"Now I understand. You have found out that Cornelia Moran is going
there. Are you still harping on that string? And Cornelia never said one
word to me. I do not approve of such deceit. In my love affairs I have
always been open as the day."

"I assure you that I did NOT know Miss Moran was going there. I had not
a thought of Madame Jacobus until we met. To tell the very truth, I came
into town to look for you."

"For me? And why, pray?"

"I want to see Miss Moran. If I cannot see her, then I want to hear
about her. I thought you, of all people, could tell me the most and the
best. I assured myself that you had infinite good temper. Now, pray do
not disappoint me."

"Listen! We meet this afternoon at my aunt's, to discuss the dresses and
ceremonies proper for a very fine wedding."

"For your own wedding, in fact--Is not that so?"

"Well, then?"

"Well, then, who knows more on that subject than Joris Hyde? Was I not,
last year, at Lady Betty Somer's splendid nuptials; and at Fanny
Paget's, and the Countess of Carlisle's? Indeed, I maintain that in such
a discussion _I_ am an absolute necessity. And I wish to know Madame
Jacobus. I have long wished to know her. Upon my honour, I think her to
be one of the most interesting women in New York!"