"That would rather depend on how you treated me."
"You mean, don't you, that it would rather depend on how I let you treat me?" Fanny, as she spoke, looked Loftus in the eyes and made a face at him.
That face, Loftus, after a momentary interlude with knife and fork, tried to mimic. "If a chap gave you the chance you would drive him to the devil."
On Fanny's lips a smile bubbled. She shook her pretty head. "No, not half so far. Not even so far as the other end of Fifth avenue, where I saw you trying to scrape acquaintance with that girl. Apropos. You might tell me. How are matters progressing? Has the castle capitulated?"
"I haven't an idea what you are talking about."
"That's right. Assume a virtue though you have it not. It's a good plan."
"It does not appear to be yours."
"Appearances may be deceptive."
"And even may not be."
Sylvia interrupted them. "What are you two quarreling about?"