“Ferdy’s right,” said Mr Ringwood. “Fellow is a commoner! No business to leave the baby to starve. Easy enough to provide for it if it is his baby.”
“Girl seemed very certain of it,” offered Ferdy. “Said it was like him. Tell you what, Gil: take another look at the baby!”
“No use doing that. Fellow disowned it. Can’t force him to provide for it.”
“Dash it!” Sherry exclaimed. “If every bit of mus — ”
“Didn’t look to me like a bit of muslin, Sherry.”
“I don’t believe Monty — ”
“No, very likely you don’t,” said Mr Ringwood ruthlessly. “Fellow’s a damned rake, if you ask me.”
“Lord, who cares for that? Anyone would think — ”
“No one cares. Point is — ”
“Fellow has a perfect right to be a rake,” agreed Ferdy. “No harm in that. No right to leave the baby in the gutter. Bad ton.”