"Mr Coventry! What on earth do you mean?"
The lady's manner was altogether unmistakable, but Mr Coventry rushed at his fences.
"I can only say that I hope that you will find a more worthy object of what I cannot but call your eccentric liberality."
Mrs Murphy, as she sat, bank-notes in hand, endeavouring to grasp the gentleman's meaning, would not have made a bad study for a comic artist.
"Mr Coventry, will you be so good as to take back your property?"
The lady held out the notes. The gentleman waved them from him.
"My property! I presume you mean your property?"
"Mr Coventry, what do you mean by giving me these bank-notes?"
"Rather, Mrs Murphy, I think I am entitled to ask what you meant by giving them to me?"
"Pray, Mr Coventry, are you mad?"