"And when may we hope to see you again?"
"As soon as I can get away."
"That may not be till bed-time."
"Impossible! have I not promised to give you your revenge this evening?"
"Yes; but when a lady's in the case—"
"Nonsense! I shall return to dinner."
"And not before? How mortifying it is to me to see that you are not afraid of leaving me so many hours at liberty to pay court to your wife,—with whom, you know, I am desperately in love!"
"If my wife were not what she is, I should be so; and my confidence, I assure you, is not in you, but in her."
"Besides, we shall not be alone, my lord, for I am going to challenge you," said I, "to call on my mother."
"Agreed! And now I am flattered. Your lady, you see, thinks me a more formidable person than you do. Suppose, my dear lady, that we go off together, only to punish him for his weak confidence?"