"
"I think I could manage the proposing part right enough," said Hugo, "if
I could count on being left alone with her for four or five hours. The
trouble is that I'm not likely to get anything like that amount of grace.
That fellow Lanner is showing signs of interesting himself in the same
quarter. He's quite heartbreakingly rich and is rather a swell in his
way; in fact, our hostess is obviously a bit flattered at having him
here. If she gets wind of the fact that he's inclined to be attracted by
Betty Coulterneb she'll think it a splendid match and throw them into
each other's arms all day long, and then where will my opportunities come
in? My one anxiety is to keep him out of the girl's way as much as
possible, and if you could help me--"
"If you want me to trot Lanner round the countryside, inspecting alleged
Roman remains and studying local methods of bee culture and crop raising,
I'm afraid I can't oblige you," said Clovis. "You see, he's taken
something like an aversion to me since the other night in the smoking-
room."
"What happened in the smoking-room?"
"He trotted out some well-worn chestnut as the latest thing in good
stories, and I remarked, quite innocently, that I never could remember
whether it was George II. or James II. who was so fond of that particular
story, and now he regards me with politely-draped dislike. I'll do my
best for you, if the opportunity arises, but it will have to be in a
roundabout, impersonal manner.
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