'I do. I know Miss Broad, and very well. I hope she will be my wife. She has promised that she will.'
'Ah, you and I know what is the value of such promises, don't we, Mr Holland? Is she any relation to Broad, the teaman, in Mincing Lane?'
'She is his daughter; his only child.'
'Indeed! His only child? How delightful! Old Broad has bushels of money. How nice for you, of all men, to be received in such a family.'
The airy insolence of the tone was meant to sting, and did, though he endeavoured to conceal the fact.
'You haven't answered my question.'
'Haven't I? What was your question?'
'Will you let me have the ring, to save my inheritance?'
'It's such an odd question--isn't it, Bryan? So mysterious. Melodrama's not at all my line. They say I'm too small. Do you think that I'm too small?'
'I should imagine that you were better fitted to shine in domestic comedy.'