"I'm a blundering idiot," he said.
Mr. Morton sniffed.
"I've put him against me now—Lord knows how; but I've done it; and he won't listen to me."
"Gad!" said Mr. Morton; "what funny people you all are! And you really meant what you said?"
"Every word," said the old man cheerfully.... "Well; our little plot's over."
"Why don't you ask him to come and see you?"
"First," said the old man, with the same unruffled cheerfulness, "he wouldn't have come. We've muddled it. We'd much better have been straightforward. Secondly, he thinks me an old fool—as you do, only more so. No; we must set to work some other way now.... Tell me about Miss Deronnais: I showed you her letter?"
The other nodded, helping himself to cheese.
"I told her that I was at her service, of course; and I haven't heard again. Sensible girl?"
"Very sensible, I should say."