"Damn your impudence, sir."
"Is that your answer?"
"It is; with this addition--that I hope, and intend, to marry Miss Patterson at the earliest possible moment."
"Then, in that case, you leave me no option but to place this letter before Miss Patterson."
"Is that meant for a threat?"
Andrews appeared in the doorway to announce that Mr. Parmiter was in the outer office.
"Show Mr. Parmiter in at once for a few minutes, Andrews, if you please."
As the young solicitor came in Rodney advanced to greet him.
"Hallo, Parmiter! you come in the very nick of time--you see Mr. Wilkes has favoured me with his company again. Mr. Wilkes, read to Mr. Parmiter the letter you just now read to me."
"I shall certainly do nothing of the kind. With all possible respect to Mr. Parmiter, this is a matter in which he has no locus standi, and in which I cannot recognise him at all."