Page:The Princess Casamassima (London and New York, Macmillan & Co., 1886), Volume 3.djvu/211

 that you may have a quiet sleep—I mean in case it might contain anything that will be disagreeable to you. But it is probably nothing; it is probably only a word to say that you need think no more about your engagement.'

'Why should it be that?' Hyacinth asked.

'Probably he has heard that you repent.'

'That I repent?' Hyacinth stopped him short; they had just reached the top of Park Lane. 'To whom have I given a right to say that?'

'Ah well, if you haven't, so much the better. It may be, then, for some other reason.'

'Don't be an idiot, Schinkel,' Hyacinth returned, as they walked along. And in a moment he went on, 'What the devil did you go and tattle to the Poupins for?'

'Because I thought they would like to know. Besides, I felt my responsibility; I thought I should carry it better if they knew it. And then, I'm like them—I lofe you.'

Hyacinth made no answer to this profession; he asked the next instant, 'Why didn't your young man bring the letter directly to me?'

'Ah, I didn't ask him that! The reason was probably not complicated, but simple—that those who wrote it knew my address and didn't know yours. And wasn't I one of your guarantors?'

'Yes, but not the principal one. The principal one was Muniment. Why was the letter not sent to me through him?'

'My dear Robinson, you want to know too many things. Depend upon it, there are always good reasons. I should have liked it better if it had been Muniment. But if they didn't send to him'—Schinkel interrupted himself;