Masters spoke quite patiently, smiling the while. He was giving the other his head; it was his best, his only, plan.
"Grin on, you old lunatic! But I warn you, if you seek to make my life a misery by pouring lover-like descriptions of my sister into my unwilling ear, I'll abandon myself to the mercy of the ocean, and sneak off alone in the Captain's gig."
"Well, I do want to talk to you about your sister."
Dick groaned again. He was in great good humour; his feet were beating a lively tattoo; Masters continued:
"But I don't propose now, or hereafter, to say one word about her appearance, manner or ways."
"Thanks, thanks, kind sir. For this relief much thanks. Excuse this emotion; they are tears of relief."
There was a limit; Masters was reaching it. Was forced into saying, half seriously, half jokingly:
"You are the most unsympathetic, hard-hearted brute that ever existed."
Dick grinned. It was exactly what he wanted to hear; took the utterance as the greatest possible compliment. He was succeeding admirably; restraining his delight, he said:
"Your flattery is too subtle. You wrap it up too much: like an American caramel. Please remember that my perception is not as delicate as yours."