“I 'll show whether I can or not. Of coarse, if you like to disclaim or deny—”
“I 'll disclaim nothing that I know to be true.”
“And I am to speak freely?”
“As freely as you are able.”
“Here it is, then, in five words: You are in love, Tony,—in love with that beautiful widow.”
Tony held his head down between his hands, and was silent.
“You feel that the case is hopeless,—that is to say, that you know, besides being of rank and wealth, she is one to make a great match, and that her family would never consent to hear of your pretensions; and yet all this while you have a sort of lurking suspicion that she cares for you?”
“No, no!” muttered Tony, between his hands.
“Well, that she did once, and that not very long ago.”
“Not even that,” said Tony, drearily.