“And if I don’t bring it off all right, or as you think all right, you’ll turn round and abuse me,” he said at last.
“You needn’t be in the least afraid of that,” answered Phil. “I’ll give you a free hand to act as you think right.”
“You will?”
“Of course.”
“Now you’re talking, as they say in the States. Well, Phil, I’ll do what I can for you. But mind, you must leave everything in my hands unreservedly. None of your insane scruples about ‘form,’ or anything of that kind. Do you agree to this?”
“I do, unreservedly.”
“Well, it’s dead contrary to my principles, as I told you before; but for this once I’ll throw judgment overboard, especially as it is to turn the flank of an infernal scheming, crafty female creature,” added this misogynist, an acrid ring coming into his tone. “And now, Phil, you had better not go back to the hotel. Start off from here and walk somewhere till lunch-time—if you could make it till dinner-time, all the better. By then I shall have knocked what change I can out of the exasperated but knowing British parent.”