"Well, of all the damn fools!"
"Sir?"
"Of all the jackasses!"
Warburton bit his lip angrily.
The colonel swung the rose to and fro. "Yes, sir, a damn fool!"
"I dare say that I am, sir. But I have gone too far to back out now.
Will you give me back that rose, Colonel?"
"What do you mean by her?"—coldly.
"I love her with all my heart,"—hotly. "I want her for my comrade, my wife, my companion, my partner in all I have or do. I love her, and I don't care a hang who knows it."
"Not so loud, my friend; not so loud."
"Oh, I do not care who hears,"—discouragedly.