For Ram Lal's first skeleton report had clearly proved to him that the coast was clear.

"Thank Heavens there are as yet no rivals," Hawke murmured.
"Neither confidential friend of the old boy, no dashing Ruy Gomez as yet in the way." Hawke viewed himself complacently in the mirror.

He was severely just to himself, and he well knew all his own good points.
"Pshaw!" he murmured, "any man not one-eyed can easily play the Prince Charming to a hooded lady all forlorn, a mere child, a tyro in life's soft battles of the heart.

I must impress this pompous old fool that I know all the intrigues of his proposed elevation.

He will unbosom, and both trust and fear me.