"By Jove!"
"Yes; and what's more, I've been married for ten years."
"Ten years! Good Lord!"
"It's true."
"Why, how old could you have been when you got married?"
"A miserable, ignorant, inexperienced dolt, idiot, and brat of a boy."
"By Jove!"
"Well, the secret's out; and now, if you care to hear, I will tell you all about it."
"I'm dying to hear, dear boy; so go on."
And at this Scone Dacres began his story.