"Miss Moon, if you please."
"Lillian to me, Lord Curberry." "Nothing of the sort, sir," cried the other suitor furiously, and his pale eyes grew angry. "Sir John Moon wishes me to marry his niece."
"Probably, but his niece wishes to marry me."
"That she shall never do."
"Oh, I think so. And what I wish to say, Lord Curberry, is this--that you annoy Miss Moon with your attentions. They must cease."
"How dare you; how dare you; how dare you!"
"Oh, I dare anything where Lillian is concerned," retorted Halliday, and again in a careless manner took up the book, leaning against the table and crossing his legs as he did so. "Leave my house," cried Curberry, starting to his feet, for this nonchalant behavior irritated him greatly. "Oh, willingly. I simply stayed to warn you that Lillian must not be annoyed by you in any way."
"And if I do not obey you?" sneered the other, quivering with rage. "I shall make myself unpleasant, Lord Curberry."
"Do you know to whom you are speaking?"
"Well," said Dan slowly, and with a keen glance at the angry face, "I am not quite sure. I am not Asmodeus to unroof houses, you know." Curberry's yellow face suddenly became white, and his lips trembled nervously. "I don't understand you."