"I think I would rather you did not say any more about that," I broke in.
"Bear with me a moment. He is devotedly attached to your sister and he has a genuine regard for you yourself; he has empowered me to offer you an unqualified apology for what passed when he was last here, and to assure you that you placed quite the wrong interpretation on what he said. He is very unhappy."
"Do you know what passed?"
"It was very unfortunate," he replied with a gesture of regret. "But remember, please, the feelings of a man who sees himself about to lose what he prizes more than anything else on earth. A man in love, you know!"
"But my sister does not return his regard."
"He wishes only to be allowed to call and make his apologies for himself. I can assure you, of my own knowledge, that his regret is abject."
"There is good ground for it," I said drily. "And his coming here would do no good. I don't believe he ever had a ghost of a chance of getting my sister to care for him and am dead certain that whatever chance he had was absolutely ruined by his conduct that day."
"Well, may he come? Let me put it as a personal favour to me?"
I hesitated a second. "I can't refuse you; but it is for your sake not for his that I consent; and he had better not come for a few days."
"In the meantime you will speak to your sister and tell her of his regrets and perhaps say a word----"