"Which requires capital," said Howard Murpoint.
The earl flushed.
"Your ward is wealthy——"
"And your son must needs be noble, my lord," continued the captain. "A match between them is a thing to be desired."
"You would give your consent?" said the earl, almost feverishly.
The captain smiled.
"Let us talk of something else," he said. "It is a shame to dispose of the young things without their consent."
Then suddenly he said:
"Did you hear that the prime minister had spoken of my scheme for negotiating with the Swedish mines with much favor?"