Hoped rather than expected... You are quite right.
"I must beg for enlightenment," I said.
"Well, what's that scamp of a boy of yours been up to?," he asked.
"I will not permit such language about my son!," I cried.
"Too late now. You should have brought him up better," he said.
This from Spenworth, whose life has been one dark, unbroken record of debauchery, unfaithfulness ... not a tenth part known owing to his cleverness in hushing up scandals, impoverishing that glorious estate to buy the silence of those who held awkward secrets. Indeed I know what I am talking about. When he wanted poor Kathleen to divorce him, he gave her the run of Cheniston; heirlooms apart, she might take anything "to feather her new nest", as he elegantly put it. And this in a house which will come to Arthur and Will if anything happens to that sickly baby... There was a marvellous story going the rounds a few months ago that I had tried to entangle Kathleen with the King's Proctor or the President of the Divorce Court or somebody of the kind, so that she might be tied to Spenworth and Cheniston have no heir. Comment... What is the phrase? Comment is superfluous! But, if Arthur or Will were steward of Cheniston, they would give a better account of their stewardship than my brother-in-law is likely to do... I have lost the thread... Ah, yes!
"Satan rebuking sin, Spenworth," I suggested, "though I have no idea what charge you are bringing against my boy."
"You can have a good time in this world without being a cad," he said. "At least I hope I can. Apparently your precious Will can't."
"Have a good time"! There is a phrase to put you on your guard!
"I don't know what you mean," I said. "I don't know what's the matter with you. But I do know that we shan't do any good by continuing this discussion."