“Don’t stand there ‘siring’ me, Mr. Redgill; get out of my house this instant. I loathe the very air you breathe, and wish I’d never laid eyes on you.”
“Really, sir, and madam,” continued Phillip, addressing husband and wife, for the latter, attracted by the noisy altercation, had arrived upon the scene, “really I cannot understand what all this means. I really——”
“You can’t, eh? Well, come here, sir,” continued old Sir Andrew, entering the parlour again, and dancing about into every corner of it; “you can’t, eh? Then read that, sir,” said he, throwing down the letter, “read that, sir, and then get out of my house as quickly as possible.”
“Lost?” gasped Phillip.
“Lost, aye, lost! So are you, and so am I, and so are all of us lost—down to the bottom, among the silks and teas.”
“This news, sir, is astounding!” said Phillip, looking very pale, and biting his nails. “The Skeleton Crew did it, eh? This almost unmans me, Sir Andrew.”
“Does it? Well, then, sir, what must I feel, who have to bear nearly all the loss? You’ll oblige me, Phillip Redgill, by getting that money of yours together—I’ll stand no more delays. And I’d thank you never to set foot in my house again.”
“Really, Sir Andrew, your conduct is inexplicable! I came to see your daughter, my——”
“You did, did you? Ha, ha! he, he! But let me tell you, sir, that before she should be your wife, I would rather see her in——.”
“Sir Andrew, dear,” interrupted Lady McTurk, getting in between the two angry gentlemen. “Husband, dear, be calm, I pray!”