“Nice morning, Hugo. Up late last night?”
“No,” said Major Cypress. “No. I was not up late last night, George. And if you really want to know, I think it is a very classy morning.”
“Well,” said Tarlyon, “you can’t say fairer than that, old man.”
Silence....
“Sir,” said Major Cypress, “have I your permission to pay my addresses to your little sister with a view to a matrimonial entanglement?”
“Ho!” said Tarlyon.
“What the devil do you mean by saying ‘Ho!’ when I ask you if I can pay my——”
“You can pay her what you like,” said Tarlyon sulkily.
“I thank you,” said Hugo.
“But,” said Tarlyon, “can you pay her anything at all? Major Cypress, are you in a position to support a wife?”