“Of winning what? I am so interested.” She rose and stood just before him with a cajoling air. The Major shut his mouth tight.
“I’m as dumb as an oyster. Do you think I would betray my friend’s confidence—for nothing? I’m as silent as the oracle of Delphi.”
Lawrence looked anxious, and Rose followed the old man closely.
“I’ll pay you anything.”
“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?”