The Chevalier faced him. “Tell me, then, you who are of a family of the most distinguished, the most correct, should I do this thing?”
“Dash it, just what I have been telling you!” said Freddy. “What’s more, there’s no time to be lost.”
A doubt shook the Chevalier. “Can it be that she would trust me? So young, so innocent!”
“Why shouldn’t she? What I mean is, no reason at all, if she’s an innocent. Ought to know that!”
The Chevalier drew a deep breath, and flung open his arms. “ La tête me tourne! But one little half-hour past, behold me, plongé dans le désespoir! Then you come to me, comme ange tutelaire, and you transport me to Paradise!”
“Very happy to be of service,” murmured Freddy, rising, and setting down his empty glass.
The Chevalier gave a shaken laugh. “Ah, I am without words! Je m’en suis plus! ”
“Are you, though?” said Freddy hopefully. “Good thing: no time to waste in speechifying! Fact is, never one to talk much: not clever, y’know!”
“You—!” uttered the Chevalier, in throbbing accents. “You will permit me at least to thank you!”
Freddy’s eyes started from his head with horror, for it seemed, for one hideous moment, as though the Chevalier had every intention of embracing him. However, the excitable Frenchman contented himself with seizing both his hands, and exclaiming in a voice of profound emotion: “My benefactor!”