“And is this all the information you are disposed to give me?”
“I see no right you have to require more.”
“I find you, sir, in company with my sister,” said the young soldier, “and I have a right to know who is admitted into Miss M’Intyre’s society.”
“I shall take the liberty of disputing that right,” replied Lovel, with a manner as haughty as that of the young soldier;—“you find me in society who are satisfied with the degree of information on my affairs which I have thought proper to communicate, and you, a mere stranger, have no right to inquire further.”
“Mr. Lovel, if you served as you say you have”—
“If!” interrupted Lovel,—“if I have served as I say I have?”
“Yes, sir, such is my expression—if you have so served, you must know that you owe me satisfaction either in one way or other.”
“If that be your opinion, I shall be proud to give it to you, Captain M’Intyre, in the way in which the word is generally used among gentlemen.”
“Very well, sir,” rejoined Hector, and, turning his horse round, galloped off to overtake his party.
His absence had already alarmed them, and his sister, having stopped the carriage, had her neck stretched out of the window to see where he was.