Now I am going to ask you a straight question.

Do you want Ernest Switzer to have Kathleen ?" "Well, he's a decent sort and a clever fellow," began Larry.
"Now, Larry, you may as well cut that 'decent sort,' 'clever fellow' stuff right out.

I want to know your mind.

Would you like to see Ernest Switzer have Kathleen, or not ?" "Would you ?" retorted her brother.
"No.

I would not," emphatically said Nora.
"Why not ?" "To tell the truth, ever since that concert night I feel I can't trust him.