there must be many other things for you to do." He came at once to the point.
"I want your permission to ask your daughter to marry me, Mrs.Craven." There was a long silence between them.

He seemed, in his inner consciousness, to be carrying on a dialogue.
"You see," he said to the Shadow, "I have forestalled you.

I shall ask Margaret Craven this evening to marry me.

You cannot prevent that.

.