"Do not mock me," he said, almost fiercely. "My poor scheme may never see the light."
"Oh, yes it will. You are bound to succeed. You are not the kind of man to give up in despair."
"Give up what in despair?"
"Anything on which you have set your heart. You're like Gervase in that respect, and it is a quality I admire immensely in a man."
"But what if two strong men set their hearts on the same thing?"
"What thing?"
"Oh, anything. A woman, for instance," he said, with a forced laugh.
"Ah, then I expect the stronger and the worthier would win."
"Do women admire strength and worth so much? Do they not rather admire position and name and title? Has the poor man a chance against the rich; the plain man any chance against gold lace and epaulets?"
"No one can speak in the name of all women. But I must run away now or Sir Charles may go to my room in search of me."