Explore "The under-Secretary" by William le Queux on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
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."