“I daresay you might not, though what that has to say to anything I know not! Come in, Sale is in here. Gilly, here is Gaywood in some nonsensical pucker!”
The Duke took the door-handle in his own hand. “Yes, sir, so I see.”
The Viscount rolled a fiery eye at him, and said with painstaking civility: “I must beg the favour of a word in private with yon, my lord Duke!”
“Certainly,” replied the Duke. “Come in!”
Lord Lionel’s brows shot up. “Now, what’s the matter between you two?” he asked. “I’ll have no quarrelling here, understand! Don’t put on airs to be interesting, Gaywood, for they don’t impress me!”
Lord Gaywood ignored him contemptuously. “I said, in private, my lord Duke!”
Lord Lionel began to look rather grim. He turned, as though to come back into the room, but found that the Duke’s hand had been laid detainingly on his arm.”
“If you please, sir!” the Duke said.
“Now, Gilly, I don’t know what may be amiss, but I am not going to permit you—” He stopped, meeting the Duke’s eyes. “Oh, very well!” he shrugged. “Settle it between you! You will not do anything foolish, my boy!”
He went off, and the Duke, still holding the door, looked across the room at his cousin. “Gideon!”