“He'll thank Heaven you didn't present him with a French or Italian count to support.”
“I believe he will. His objection to Gus was that he looked like a foreigner and never had done a day's work in his life. Poor Gus! He didn't measure up to Dad's idea of a man. Now I suppose you could earn a living for us.”
“I'm not expecting you to take in sewing.”
“Are you going to do the independent if Dad cuts up rough?” she asked saucily.
“Independent is the word.” He smiled with a sudden appreciation of the situation. “And I take it he means to cut up rough. I wired him to-day I was going to ask you to marry me.”
“But wasn't that a little premature? Perhaps it wouldn't have been necessary. Or did you take me for granted?”
“There was always the car for a kidnapping in case of necessity,” he joked.
“I wanted to be above board about it even if I am an adventurer.”
“What did he say? How could you put it in a telegram?”
“Red consoles marooned sweet post delayed.”
“It's from our private code. It means, 'Going to marry your daughter if she is willing. With your consent, I hope.'”
“And he answered? I'll take the English version, please.”
“'Consent refused. No fortune hunters need apply.' That is not a direct quotation, but it conveys his meaning accurately enough.”
“So I'm to be cut off with a shilling.” Her eyes bubbled with delight.
“I reckon so. Of course I had to come back at him.”
“How, may I ask?” She was vastly amused at this novel correspondence.
“Oh, I merely said in substance that I was glad to hear it because you couldn't think now I wanted to marry you for your money. I added that if things came my way we would send him cards later. One doesn't like to slang one's wife's father, so I drew it mild.”
“I don't believe a word of it. You wouldn't dare.”
That she admired and at the same time distrusted was so apparent that he drew a yellow envelope from his pocket and handed it to her.
“This is his latest contribution to the literature of frankness. You see his feelings overflowed so promptly he had to turn loose in good American talk right off the bat. Couldn't wait for the code.”
She read aloud. “Your resignation as General Counsel Transcontinental will be accepted immediately. Turn over papers to Walker and go to the devil.” It was signed “Powers.”