The ambassador then speaks for himself:
“‘You may have remarked my affection for Miss Monica? You must have remarked it?’
“‘I beg a thousand pardons,’ said the wag Jericho, ‘but it has quite escaped me.’
“Candytuft wanly smiled.
“‘In a word, my dear sir, we have come to the sweet conclusion that we were made for one another.’
“‘Dear me! Well, how lucky you should have met!’”
Mr. Candytuft beats about the bush for awhile, but at last comes abruptly to the point, saying:
“‘I must ask—you force me to be plain—what will you give with the young lady?’
“‘Not a farthing!’ cried Jericho. ‘Not one farthing!’ said the man of money with determined emphasis.