"I have no influence with the woman."
"Oh, I think so. She wishes Dorothy to marry my cousin."
"Your cousin!"
"Can you deny the relationship?"
Derrington shirked the question by assenting to Brendon's request. "I may be able to make Mrs. Ward hold her tongue," he growled.
"I am quite sure she will do anything you tell her, in the hope that you will approve of a match between my cousin and her daughter."
"And you wish me to approve?" sneered the old man.
"As to that, it matters little. Mrs. Ward wishes Dorothy to be Lady Derrington and to have your very excellent income. Whether she marries me or Vane it comes to the same thing. I can't understand Mrs. Ward's dislike and mischief-making since that is the case."
"I can," snapped Derrington. "You are too clever for her, and Walter is a fool."
"Perhaps so. However, as I shall marry Dorothy it doesn't much matter."