He now rejoiced that he had not made a positive proposal, as he would then have been compelled to take the fair girl without a portion, and he was not disinterested enough to do that.
However, he put the best face he could on the matter, and said:
“I am obliged to you for the information you have given me. Had I meant to propose to Miss Calverley, it would not have deterred me; but I have no such intention.”
“And you expect me to believe this after what I beheld just now?” said Mrs. Calverley, incredulously.
“I expect you to believe what I tell you,” rejoined the captain rather haughtily. “And I again assert that I have not proposed to her.”
“I am glad to hear it. It would have pained me to do a disagreeable thing.”
“But you would have done it?”
“Undoubtedly. However, since you give me this assurance, I need say no more.”
Later on in the day, Chetwynd and Captain Danvers were smoking a cigar in the dressing-room of the former, when the captain broached a subject on which he had been ruminating.
“Chetwynd, old boy,” he said, “I want to ask you a question. Don't think me impertinent; but I should like to know whether it is true that Mrs. Calverley has the entire control of your sister's fortune?”