So to the castle they went, and, leaving their carriage at the entrance, strolled slowly through the grounds till they reached the broken tower.
"If they had used dynamite," said Mr.Barker, "they would have sent the whole thing flying across the river." "It would have been less picturesque afterwards," said Claudius.
"It would have been more effective at the time." Claudius was thinking of the dark woman and her parasol, and how he had climbed down there a few weeks before.

To show to himself that he did not care, he told his companion the incident as graphically as he could.
His description of the lady was so graphic that Mr.Barker screwed up his eyes and put out his jaw, so that two great lines circled on his sallow face from just above the nostril, under his heavy moustache to his chin.
"I could almost fancy I had seen her somewhere," said he.
"Where ?" asked Claudius eagerly.
"I thought he would give himself away," was the American's terse inward reflection; but he answered coolly-- "I don't know, I am sure.

Very likely I am mistaken.

It was pretty romantic though.

Ask me to the wedding, Professor." "What wedding ?" "Why, when you marry the fascinating creature with the parasol." Claudius looked at Mr.Barker with some astonishment.
"Do you generally manage things so quickly in your country ?" "Oh, I was only joking," returned the American.