I met your daughter little more than an hour
ago, coming out of a steamship office, where she had booked a
passage to Buenos Ayres to get away from me. I was fortunate
enough to induce her to change her mind. She has consented
instead to remain in England as my wife. We were, as you see,
celebrating the occasion."
Sir Timothy laid his hat upon the sideboard and slowly removed
his gloves.
"I trust," he said, "that this pint bottle does not represent
your cellar. I will drink a glass of wine with you, and with
your permission make myself a pate sandwich. I was just sitting
down to luncheon when I received the information which brought me
here."
Francis produced another bottle of wine from the sideboard and
filled his visitor's glass.
"You will drink, I hope, to our happiness," he said.
"I shall do nothing of the sort," Sir Timothy declared, helping
himself with care to the pate. "I have no superstitions about
breaking bread with an enemy, or I should not have asked you to
visit me at The Sanctuary, Mr. Ledsam. I object to your marriage
with my daughter, and I shall take what steps I can to prevent
it."
"Why?"
Sir Timothy did not at once reply. He seemed to be enjoying his
sandwich; he also appreciated the flavour of his wine.
"Your question," he said, "strikes me as being a little
ingenuous.
Pages:
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182