“What does all this mean, Brush?”
“It means that you and Ruggles and I have been the three infernalist fools that ever pretended to have sense.”
“How?”
“How? In every way conceivable. Wade and I, as we told you, saw that those two were in love with each other; instead of persuading you to consent, we have helped you to prevent it. I must say, captain, that though Wade and I played the idiot, I think the championship belongs to you.”
“I begin to suspect it.”
“There’s no doubt of it.”
“But, you see, parson, I had never thought of anything like this.”
“Which goes to prove the truth of what I have just said. If you hadn’t been blind you would have seen it.”
“I got the belief into my head that his intentions were not honorable toward Nellie.”
“You never made a greater mistake; Lieutenant Russell is the soul of honor; heaven intended him for the husband of Nellie, and we were flying in the face of Providence when we tried to prevent it.”