"As a matter of business, you understand?"
"If you insist; though it will be a pleasure, Captain Hocken, I assure you."
"It's—it's a bit difficult," stammered Cai gratefully. "In fact, it's not an ordinary sort of letter at all."
Mr Benny, patting his paper into a neat pad, smiled professionally. The letter might not be an ordinary sort of letter; but he had in old days listened some hundreds of times to this exordium.
"It's—well, it's a proposal of marriage," said Cai desperately; and in despite of himself he started as he uttered the word.
Mr Benny, having patted up the pad to his satisfaction, answered with a nod only, and dipped his pen in the inkpot.
"I don't think you heard me," ventured Cai. "It's a proposal of marriage."
"Fire away!" said Mr Benny. "Just dictate, of give me the main bearings, and I'll fix it up."
"But look here—it's a proposal of marriage, I tell you!"
"I've written scores and scores. . . . For yourself, is it?"