La Coque made a wry face, and la Roque laughed softly and enjoyingly. He was a full-bodied man, with small drooping-lidded eyes and a small moist mouth.
“Look before you leap, my little Charles, is a ver-y good proverb,” he said.
“Bah! good for cardsharpers,” retorted la Coque angrily.
“Is that,” said the other smoothly, “a specific innuendo or a generalisation?”
“Supposing it is the former?” said la Coque insolently.
“Then I repudiate it, with——”
“With what?” demanded the coxcomb, rising.
“With considerable indignation,” said la Roque.
The duke made a laughing gesture.
“Put down your crest, bully-boy; and either read the letter or hand it me back.”