“She is extraordinarily fond of me.”
“Perhaps. You see she has not any one else to be fond of.”
“We can scarcely say that now,” returned McVay encouragingly.
“I won’t discuss it with you.”
“You can’t mean to tell me that you are in love with my sister and mean to send me to state’s prison?”
“I mean exactly that.”
“Why, she’d never forgive you.”
Geoffrey thought this so probable that he had no answer to give and presently McVay, who had been grumbling over the matter to himself, asked: “Are you serious, Holland?”
“What do you suppose I am?” Geoffrey roared, and McVay, shaking his head went on with the work of clearing the table. He was very silent and abstracted and for the first time seemed to realise his position. When they had put away the last plate, Geoffrey said:
“Now come to the library. I am going to give you a pipe, confound you.”