Doing the thing nicely, isn't it ?" For a minute or two the Marchese was utterly unable to answer him a word.

His head swam round.

He felt sick.

A cold perspiration broke out all over him; and he feared that he should have fallen from his seat.
"He is a great fool for his pains," he said at last, mastering himself by a great effort, sufficiently to enable himself to utter the words in an ordinary voice and manner.
"Well, it seemed to me a mad scheme, considering all things.

And the truth is, that I thought your lordship would very likely think it well to put a stop to it.