Stafford nodded. "Oh, yes, you told me about it. It's a very big
thing, I daresay, but what puzzles me is why the governor should care
to worry about it. He has money enough--"
"No man has money enough," said Howard, solemnly. "But no matter. It is
a waste of time to discuss philosophy with a man who has no mind above
fox-hunting, fishing, pheasant-shooting, and dancing. By the way, how
many times do you intend to dance with the Grecian goddess?"
"Meaning--" said Stafford.
"Miss Falconer, of course. Grecian goddesses are not so common, my dear
Stafford, as to permit of more than one in a house-party."
"I'm sure I don't know," replied Stafford, eyeing him with faint
surprise. "What the devil made you ask me that?"
Howard eyed the handsome face with cynical amusement.
"Pardon, if I was impertinent; but I assure you the question is being
asked amongst themselves by all the women in the house--"
Stafford stared at him and began to frown with perplexity rather than
anger.
"My dear Stafford, I know that you are not possessed of a particularly
brilliant intellect, but you surely possess sufficient intelligence to
see that your attentions to Miss Falconer are somewhat obvious."
"What?" said Stafford. "My attentions to Miss Falconer--Are you
chaffing, Howard?"
"Not in the least: it's usually too great a waste of time with you, my
dear boy: you don't listen, and when you do, half the time you don't
understand. No, I'm quite serious; but perhaps I ought to have said her
attentions to you; it would have been more correct."
Stafford coloured.
"Look here, old man," he said. "If you think--Oh, dash it all, what
nonsense it is! Miss Falconer and I are very good friends; and of
course I like to talk to her--she's so sharp, almost as smart and
clever as you are, when she likes to take the trouble; and of course I
like to hear her sing--Why, my dear Howard, it's like listening to one
of the big operatic swells; but--but to suggest that there is
anything--that--there is any reason to warn me--Oh, dash it! come off
it, old man, you're chaffing?"
"Not in the least. But I didn't intend any warning: in fact, I am in
honour bound to refrain from anything of the kind--"
"In honour bound?" said Stafford.
Howard almost blushed.
"Oh, it's nothing; only a silly wager," he said. "I can't tell you, so
don't enquire. But all the same--well, there, I won't say more if you
are sure there is nothing between you."