My attitude was illogical and absurd." "You have discovered," said I, "that she is not the inspiration you thought she was, and like an honest man have decided to let her alone." "On the contrary," said he.

"I'd give the eyes out of my head to marry her." "Why ?" He met my gaze very frankly.

"For the simple reason, Major Meredyth, that I love her." All this natural, matter-of-fact simplicity coming from so artificial a product of Balliol as Randall Holmes, was a bit upsetting.

After a pause, I said: "If that is so, why don't you marry her ?" "She'll have nothing to do with me." "Have you asked her ?" "I have, in writing.

There's no mistake about it.