Part 43 (1/2)
He found himself reciting glibly Ashley's claims as a suitor in the way of family, position, and fortune.
”So that it would be what some people might call a good match.”
”The best sort of match. It's the kind of thing she's made for--that she'd be happy in--regiments, and uniforms, and glory, and presenting prizes, and all that.”
”Hm. I shall have nothing to do with it.” She rose with dignity. ”If my niece had only held out a little finger--”
”It was a case, madame,” he argued, rising, too--”it was a case in which she couldn't hold out a little finger without offering her whole hand.”
”You know nothing about it. I'm wrong to discuss it with you at all. I'm sure I don't know why I do, except that--”
”Except that I'm an American,” he suggested--”one of your own.”
”One of my own! Quelle idee! Do you like him--this Englishman?”
He hedged. ”Miss Guion likes him.”
”But you don't.”
”I haven't said so. I might like him well enough if--”
”If you got your money back.”
He smiled and nodded.
”Is she in love with him?”
”Oh--deep!”
”How do _you_ know? Has she told you so?”
”Y-es; I think I may say--she has.”
”Did you ask her?”
He colored. ”I had to--about something.”
”You weren't proposing to her yourself, were you?”
He tried to take this humorously. ”Oh no, madame--”
”You can't be in love with her, or you wouldn't be trying so hard to marry her to some one else--not unless you're a bigger fool than you look.”
”I hope I'm not that,” he laughed.
”Well, I shall have nothing to do with it--nothing. Between my niece and me--tout est fini.” She darted from him, swerving again like a bird on the wing. ”I don't know you. You come here with what may be no more than a c.o.c.k-and-bull story, to get inside the chateau.”
”I shouldn't expect you to do anything, madame, without verifying all I've told you. For the matter of that, it'll be easy enough. You've only to write to your men of business, or--which would be better still--take a trip to America for yourself.”
She threw out her arms with a tragic gesture. ”My good man, I haven't been in America for forty years. I nearly died of it then. What it must be like now--”