"Why is it such nonsense?" she asked.
"Any number of reasons. Besides, she would not have him."
"That would not prevent him from wishing to marry her."
"No, of course not, but—well, it's great stuff." He looked a little puzzled, as if he found it hard to say exactly why he objected to the idea.
"You would be very glad if Claudius married her, would you not?" asked his sister.
"Glad—I don't know—yes, I suppose so."
"But you pretend to like Mr. Barker a great deal more than you like Doctor Claudius," said she argumentatively.
"I know him better," said the Duke; "I have known Barker several years."
"And he is rich—and that, and why should he not think of proposing to Margaret?"
"Because—well I don't know, but it would be so deuced inappropriate," in which expression the honest-hearted Englishman struck the truth, going for it with his head down, after the manner of his people.