But Cocky continued to laugh convulsively, holding his side and coughing.
From his great height Hurstmanceaux looked down in scorn on the speaker.
“Pray,” he said coldly, “do you ever ask how your wife gets the ready money she has to carry on with?”
Kenilworth shook his head.
“Not I. Mutual what do-ye-call it and non-interference is the only sound basis for domestic peace.”
He spoke with an expression of implicit seriousness and good faith; only his left eye winked knowingly, as if he had said something very amusing indeed. Hurstmanceaux wondered if it would be within decent manners to kick one’s brother-in-law on his own hearth.
“You are an unutterable scoundrel, Cocky,” he said, with an effort mastering his impulse to use acts instead of words.
Kenilworth remained unmoved.
“That’s libel. A beak would fine you a fiver for it,” he said placidly. “Do you happen to have got a fiver about you?”
“Go and ask Brancepeth for one,” said Hurstmanceaux, white with rage.