"She doesn't, I tell you."
"Then she ought to. You're a nice fellow! I slave and eavesdrop for you, and now you won't do the rest yourself. What the deuce do you all see in that parson? If I were your age, and thought Claudia Territon would have me, it would take a lot of parsons to put me on one side."
"Poor old Charley!" said Eugene again. "Ayre, he shall have his shot."
"Meanwhile, the girl's wondering if you mean to throw her over. She's expected to hear from you this last month. I tell you what: I expect Rick'll kick you when you do turn up."
"Well, I shall go down and try to see her: when I get there I must be guided by circumstances."
"Very good. I expect the circumstances will turn out to be such that you'll make love to Claudia and forget all about Stafford. If you don't——"
"What?"
"You're an infernally cold-blooded conscientious young ruffian, and I never took you for that before!"
And Ayre, more perturbed about other people's affairs than a man of his creed had any business to be, returned to the Times as Eugene went to pursue his errand.