"Where did you see that fellow?"
"Right here."
"Right here? What do you mean by that?"
"He came to dine with me."
"Dine with you! And sat where I'm sitting now?"
I tried to take this pleasantly.
"It's the only place I've got to ask any one I want to talk to."
"But why should you want to talk to—to—" I saw him struggling with the word, but it came out—"to that bounder?"
"He's a friend of mine, Hugh. I've asked you already to remember that he's a gentleman."
"Gentleman! O Lord!" He became kindly and coaxing, leaning across the table with an ingratiating smile. "Look here, little Alix! Don't you think that for my sake it's time you were beginning to drop that lot?"