Read "The under-Secretary" by William le Queux online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
The brilliant woman, ignorant of his meaning, but comprehending only that he deemed her inconstant and unworthy, stood with tears in her eyes -- tears which sprang partly from sorrow, partly from offence. She knew within herself that she was heartless and wrong; but, none the less, she felt herself aggrieved.
"Claudia," he said at last, looking straight at her, "our mutual protestations of love ended long ago. We have been friends -- close friends; but as for love, well, when a woman really loves a man she does not bestow her smiles upon a score of other admirers."