It's not for me to diminish your triumph.
_Warland_. By Jove, I can't think why Mrs. Raynor didn't tell me he was
coming. A man like that--one doesn't take him for granted, like the piano-
tuner! I wonder I didn't see it in the papers.
_Isabel_. Is he grown such a great man?
_Warland_. Oberville? Great? John Oberville? I'll tell you what he is--the
power behind the throne, the black Pope, the King-maker and all the rest
of it. Don't you read the papers? Of course I'll never get on if you won't
interest yourself in politics. And to think you might have married that
man!
_Isabel_. And got you your secretaryship!
_Warland_. Oberville has them all in the hollow of his hand.
_Isabel_. Well, you'll see him at five o'clock.
_Warland_. I don't suppose he's ever heard of _me_, worse luck! (_A
silence_.) Isabel, look here. I never ask questions, do I? But it was so
long ago--and Oberville almost belongs to history--he will one of these
days at any rate. Just tell me--did he want to marry you?
_Isabel_. Since you answer for his immortality--(_after a pause_) I was
very much in love with him.
_Warland_. Then of course he did. (_Another pause_.) But what in the
world--
_Isabel (musing)_. As you say, it was so long ago; I don't see why I
shouldn't tell you. There was a married woman who had--what is the correct
expression?--made sacrifices for him. There was only one sacrifice she
objected to making--and he didn't consider himself free.
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