Captain Ware grinned at him. “Content yourself with your signal victory over my parent, Adolphus! Nothing short of physical violence will remove me, and you would be very unwise to attempt anything of that nature, you know!”
The Viscount achieved a sneer. “Hide behind Gideon if you choose!” he said. “You will not thus escape me!”
“You know, Charlie, when you have gamed away all your fortune, you may take to the boards and be sure of success!” said Gideon admiringly.
“Oh, be quiet, Gideon!” said the Duke wearily. “I wish you will go away! What is it, Gaywood? Have you come to offer me an apology? I promise you, you owe me one! If I were not about to be married to your sister I should be sorely tempted to call you to book! You are a curst nuisance!”
“ You call me to book!” gasped Gaywood. “By God, if that don’t beat all! You foist your bit of muslin onto my sister—and I can tell you I was within an ace of calling you out for that alone! and you—”
“Belinda is not, and never was, my bit of muslin, and if you were not a rattle-pated fool you would know it!”
“Doing it a trifle too brown, my lord Duke! Do you take me for a gudgeon?”
“Good God, yes!” replied the Duke. “I have taken you for agudgeon any time these past ten years!”
“Now, byJupiter, that’s too much!” exploded the Viscount, starting forward.
He found his passage barred by Gideon’s broad shoulder. “Oh, no, my boy!” said Gideon. “Nothing of that sort. You’d best take a damper!”