The young man’s eyes flashed, but he spoke quite calmly.
“I apologised for causing him to be suspected of destroying that hoarding which I cut down and burned.”
“Yes, I know you did, sir.”
“I am not surprised, father. I thought one of your spies would be watching me.”
“Oh, Denis, Denis!” cried Lady Pinemount appealingly. “Right, mother dear. I’ll speak and act quite calmly; but I will not be treated as a schoolboy.”
“Then you have apologised to Doctor Salado, the Spanish-American adventurer, and you are going to espouse his daughter, I presume?”
“Yes, father. I love her very dearly, and—”
“That will do, thank you,” said his lordship quietly, though he was pale with suppressed fury. “I have no time to listen to silly sentiment. Good morning: there is the door.”
Lady Pinemount ran to her son’s side.
“Don’t quarrel, Denis, for my sake,” she whispered; and he pressed her hand.