"I demand payment in coin that buys youth from age." He touched his lips, and catching Rose leaned slowly forward and kissed her.
"Now, tell me—what did he say? A bargain's a bargain," she laughed as Lawrence almost ground his teeth.
"Well, he said,—he said, let me see, what did he say?" paltered the Major. "He said he could not get a girl he loved to have him."
"Oh! did he say that?" She was so much interested that she just knew that Lawrence half stamped his foot.
"Yes, he said just that, and I told him—"
"Well,—what did you say?"
"Oh! I did not bargain to tell what I told him. I received payment only for betraying his confidence. If you drive a bargain I will drive one also."
Rose declared that he was the greatest old screw she ever knew, but she paid the price, and waited.
"Well?—"
"'Well?' Of course, I told him 'well.' I gave him the best advice a man ever received. A lawyer would have charged him five hundred dollars for it. I'm an oracle on heart-capture."