"I'm just as much a gentleman as Quorn," he argued. "He happens to have the title, but I might have had it and fitted the part just as well as he," he added with hidden truth.
"So you might," she agreed. "But you haven't got it. And that makes all the difference."
"I'll get one if you'll marry me," he pleaded, vaguely optimistic on the subject. Then he fancied he heard Gage's voice outside. "I say," he urged with desperate affection, "here they come. Quick. If you love me give me a kiss."
"I don't know that I do," she objected, her voice rising to a half scream of remonstrance as he clutched her.
"Give me the benefit of the doubt," he insisted drawing her face towards him.
But before his lips could reach hers, Lady Ormstork's shrill voice called "Ulrica!" The handle of the door was turned, and Peckover sprang guiltily over as much carpet as he could cover from that interesting take-off, as Gage burst in upon them with a face of suppressed fury which was not diminished by the obvious suggestiveness of the attitudes of the conscious pair.
CHAPTER XXX
"Look here, old man," said Gage to Peckover, as they settled down to their cigars after dinner, "you're not playing the game."
"What about?" his confederate inquired blandly. He had felt from Gage's sulky attitude all dinner that something was coming and was consequently prepared for it.