“And Cousin Lot—?”
“Can you fight, Richard?”
“Well, I am not much of a swordsman. But if Sir Peter thinks—”
“That you have paid undue attention to his dear daughter—”
“Yes—”
“You will sacrifice your virgin honor, eh?”
“Aunt Letitia, I trust I shall never act dishonorably by any woman.”
The dowager shut up her fan suddenly with a snap, yawned, and announced that she was going to her chamber.
“You are an incorrigible fool, Richard,” she said, contemptuously; “please ring for my maid. I see that it is quite useless to reason with such a saint.”