"I don't know the meaning of but, my Lord. I want to know what you mean to do."
"Marriage isn't in my line at all."
"Then what the d—— business have you to go about and talk to a girl like that? Marriage not in your line! Who cares for your line? I never heard such impudence in all my life. You get yourself engaged to a young lady of high rank and position and then you say that—marriage isn't in your line." Upon that he opened his eyes still wider, and glared upon the offender wrathfully.
"I can't admit that I was ever engaged to Miss Trefoil."
"Didn't you make love to her?"
The poor victim paused a moment before he answered this question, thereby confessing his guilt before he denied it. "No, my Lord; I don't think I ever did."
"You don't think! You don't know whether you asked my daughter to marry you or not! You don't think you made love to her!"
"I am sure I didn't ask her to marry me."
"I am sure you did. And now what have you got to say?" Here there was another shrug of the shoulders. "I suppose you think because you are a rich man that you may do whatever you please. But you'll have to learn the difference. You must be exposed, Sir."
"I hope for the lady's sake that as little as possible may be said of it."