He rang the silver bell in front of him, and when Gunn appeared said——
"Send Coupeau to me."
Then he turned to me again——
"You, of all persons, Robert, have least cause to censure me for Mistress O'Donnell's presence."
"I have most!" I retorted hotly. "I am so unfortunate as to be related to you, and therefor must be in some measure a sharer of the obloquy attached to your deeds."
He wagged his head sadly.
"Words! What rash, unreasoning words will not youth sponsor in its blind prejudices! Peter, I appeal to you: Doth not my grandnephew lie in my debt for my conduct in arranging for him the opportunity to squire our little Irish maid?"
Peter drained a glass of brandy.
"You better not say any more, Murray," he grunted. "Neen! Maybe you say too much."
"I had supposed myself the model of diplomacy," protested my great-uncle.