Now, Walter, as you dote on discoveries, tell me what does your algebraic head make out of this?——'That he——.' No indeed, Walter.——'Then he——.' Nor that neither, Walter. Now I discovered it in an instant: keen-eyed, cool and penetrating, I saw at once that Mr. Valmont—did not choose to see me.—'Ay: but why?'—That's quite another matter.
'Lord Filmar,' said my father, 'you are the most impertinent prevaricating puppy I ever knew in my life.'
'My Lord,' replied I bowing modestly, 'I am told I have the honour greatly to resemble your lordship.'
'Sir, you—this is all going from the point, Sir.——Did—you—ever——.' beating time on one hand with a letter he held in the other,—'directly or indirectly talk to any one about Miss Valmont?'
'Yes, Sir.'
'You did, Sir!'—fierce attitude—'And pray what did you say?'
'I said, my Lord—that Miss Valmont—was a young lady.'
'Mighty well, Lord Filmar!—'Tis mighty well!—Go on, Sir,—Ridicule your father for all his acts of kindness to you!'
'Ridicule, my Lord, is out of the question; but indeed I never shall be serious without knowing why, and your interrogatories of the last half hour are so vague, I cannot understand them. You ask me if I did ever talk of Miss Valmont?—As a young man naturally talks of a young woman, so may I have talked of Miss Valmont. The other day, for instance, I was riding with Miss Monckton—'I should like of all things,' said she, 'to see the wild girl of the castle.—Twice I have visited there with my mother; but Valmont won't suffer her to be introduced.' 'The Earl,' replied I, 'declares she is handsome, and I too should be charmed to see her.—Perhaps, my Lord, I may have made a score such speeches, and if they are any thing to the purpose, I will endeavour to recollect them in form, and circumstance.—Let me see—Last Friday se'night——.'
'Psha,' cried the Earl, 'they are nothing to my purpose.'