Don Pedro--as I said--was left behind in Genoa." "Humph!" said the Professor, unconvinced.

"He could easily employ a third party." Random rose, looking and feeling annoyed.
"I assure you that Don Pedro is a gentleman and a man of honor.

He would not stoop to--" "There! there!" Braddock waved his hands.

"Sit down: sit down." "You shouldn't say such things, Professor." "I say what I desire to say," retorted the old gentleman tartly; "but we can dismiss the subject for the time being." "I am only too glad to do so," said Random, who was ruffled out of his usual calm by the veiled accusation which Braddock had brought against his foreign friend, "and to get to a more agreeable subject, tell me how Miss Kendal is keeping." "She is ill, very ill," said the Professor solemnly.
"Ill?
Why, Hope, whom I met the other day, said that she was feeling very well and very happy." "So Hope thinks, because he has forced her into an engagement." Random started to his feet.
"Forced her?
Nonsense!" "It isn't nonsense, and don't dare to speak like that to me, sir.

I repeat that Lucy--poor child--is breaking her heart for you." The young man stared and then broke into a hearty laugh.
"Pardon me, sir, but that is impossible." "It isn't, confound you!" said Braddock, who did not like being laughed at.