Hampton, with a touch of his old audacity of manner, was first to break the silence.
"So you think I am a damned fool.

Well, we are in pretty fair accord as to that fact, although no one before has ever ventured to state it quite so clearly in my presence.

Perhaps you will kindly explain ?" The preacher wet his dry lips with his tongue, forgetting himself when his thoughts began to crystallize into expression.
"I regret having spoken as I did," he began.

"Such language is not my custom.

I was irritated because of your haste in rejecting my advances before hearing the proposition I came to submit.