Ulverston laid the snuff-box down, and raised a rueful pair of eyes to the Earl’s face. “So you know all about it, do you? Has Martin been with you?”
“No, Miss Morville. I should warn you that she is ready to inform against you to the nearest magistrate, Lucy.”
“Meddlesome female!”
“Not at all. She is a woman of remarkable good-sense. What nonsense is this, Lucy?”
“No nonsense of my seeking.”
“But you cannot mean to meet Martin, surely!”
Ulverston shrugged. “I told him I could not, but when he chose to slap my face what would you have expected me to do?”
“I can think of several things you might do. They would all of them do Martin a world of good, but they don’t include calling him out.”
“Boot’s on the other leg: he called me out. Of course I told him not to be making such a cake of himself, but when it came to his suggesting I didn’t care to face his markmanship, it was the outside of enough!”
“Oh, here’s a high flight!” said Gervase, laughing. “My poor Lucy, you have a great need to prove your mettle! I beg your pardon! But you can’t prove it against my foolish young brother, you know.”