If he were, indeed, here running errands for my rival, he might have a fair field, but certainly no favour.
'The fact is,' he began, 'I would rather see you alone.'
'Why, certainly,' I replied. 'Rowley, you can step into the bedroom. My dear fellow,' I continued, 'this sounds serious. Nothing wrong, I trust.'
'Well, I'll be quite honest,' said he. 'I AM a good deal bothered.'
'And I bet I know why!' I exclaimed. 'And I bet I can put you to rights, too!'
'What do you mean!' he asked.
'You must be hard up,' said I, 'and all I can say is, you've come to the right place. If you have the least use for a hundred pounds, or any such trifling sum as that, please mention it. It's here, quite at your service.'
'I am sure it is most kind of you,' said Ronald, 'and the truth is, though I can't think how you guessed it, that I really AM a little behind board. But I haven't come to talk about that.'
'No, I dare say!' cried I. 'Not worth talking about! But remember, Ronald, you and I are on different sides of the business. Remember that you did me one of those services that make men friends for ever. And since I have had the fortune to come into a fair share of money, just oblige me, and consider so much of it as your own.'
'No,' he said, 'I couldn't take it; I couldn't, really. Besides, the fact is, I've come on a very different matter. It's about my sister, St. Ives,' and he shook his head menacingly at me.
'You're quite sure?' I persisted. 'It's here, at your service--up to five hundred pounds, if you like. Well, all right; only remember where it is, when you do want it.'
'Oh, please let me alone!' cried Ronald: 'I've come to say something unpleasant; and how on earth can I do it, if you don't give a fellow a chance? It's about my sister, as I said. You can see for yourself that it can't be allowed to go on. It's compromising; it don't lead to anything; and you're not the kind of man (you must feel it yourself) that I can allow my female relatives to have anything to do with. I hate saying this, St. Ives; it looks like hitting a man when he's down, you know; and I told the Major I very much disliked it from the first. However, it had to be said; and now it has been, and, between gentlemen, it shouldn't be necessary to refer to it again.'
'It's compromising; it doesn't lead to anything; not the kind of man,' I repeated thoughtfully. 'Yes, I believe I understand, and shall make haste to put myself en regle.' I stood up, and laid my segar down. 'Mr. Gilchrist,' said I, with a bow, 'in answer to your very natural observations, I beg to offer myself as a suitor for your sister's hand. I am a man of title, of which we think lightly in France, but of ancient lineage, which is everywhere prized. I can display thirty-two quarterings without a blot. My expectations are certainly above the average: I believe my uncle's income averages about thirty thousand pounds, though I admit I was not careful to inform myself. Put it anywhere between fifteen and fifty thousand; it is certainly not less.'
'All this is very easy to say,' said Ronald, with a pitying smile. 'Unfortunately, these things are in the air.'
'Pardon me,--in Buckinghamshire,' said I, smiling.
'Well, what I mean is, my dear St. Ives, that you CAN'T PROVE them,' he continued. 'They might just as well not be: do you follow me? You can't bring us any third party to back you.'
'Oh, come!' cried I, springing up and hurrying to the table. 'You must excuse me!' I wrote Romaine's address. 'There is my reference, Mr. Gilchrist. Until you have written to him, and received his negative answer, I have a right to be treated, and I shall see that you treat me, as a gentleman.' He was brought up with a round turn at that.
'I beg your pardon, St. Ives,' said he. 'Believe me, I had no wish to be offensive. But there's the difficulty of this affair; I can't make any of my points without offence! You must excuse me, it's not my fault. But, at any rate, you must see for yourself this proposal of marriage is--is merely impossible, my dear fellow. It's nonsense! Our countries are at war; you are a prisoner.'
'My ancestor of the time of the Ligue,' I replied, 'married a Huguenot lady out of the Saintonge, riding two hundred miles through an enemy's country to bring off his bride; and it was a happy marriage.'
'Well!' he began; and then looked down into the fire, and became silent.