I would not care if you hired an omnibus, said Dr. Martineau. "I am not
coming on if these young women are."
"But if you consider it scandalous--and really, Martineau, really! as
one man to another, it does seem to me to be a bit pernickety of you, a
broad and original thinker as you are--"
"Thought is one matter. Rash, inconsiderate action quite another. And
above all, if I spend another day in or near the company of Miss Belinda
Seyffert I shall--I shall be extremely rude to her."
"But," said Sir Richmond and bit his lower lip and considered.
"We might drop Belinda," he suggested turning to his friend and speaking
in low, confidential tones. "She is quite a manageable person. Quite.
She could--for example--be left behind with the luggage and sent on by
train. I do not know if you realize how the land lies in that quarter.
It needs only a word to Miss Grammont."
There was no immediate reply. For a moment he had a wild hope that his
companion would agree, and then he perceived that the doctor's silence
meant only the preparation of an ultimatum.
"I object to Miss Grammont and that side of the thing, more than I do to
Miss Seyffert."
Sir Richmond said nothing.
"It may help you to see this affair from a slightly different angle if
I tell you that twice today Miss Seyffert has asked me if you were a
married man.
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