"And cool? What I mean is are you perfectly collected? Do you feel able to engage in conversation? Or are you too dazed—or perhaps too angry?"
"I can promise at least to listen and try to understand you."
He gave me a sardonic smile. "The under dog is a fool to be sarcastic," he said drily. "However, please yourself. Listen then! You are no doubt aware that it is one of my ambitions to marry Miss Ottley?"
"Yes."
"Captain Weldon stood some time since in my road."
"Yes."
"Peace to his ashes," smiled the Doctor. Then he frowned. "But to my astonishment I now find that the lady did not care for the gallant Captain."
"Indeed."
"Indeed and indeed." Belleville bit his lip. "But for you," he snarled.