In the trench, that the sedan-chair had become, Monty Paliser tightened the mask. "There is no need for any excitement. I will marry. You have my word."
On the great blasoned throne, the old man shifted. The easy victory mollified him. "Ah! You dine here?"
"Thank you, no. I am dining at the Austens'."
"Where?" the elder Paliser asked. He had heard but he wanted it repeated. It seemed vaguely promising.
"At the Austens'. You may remember that the pearl of the household was engaged. It's off."
Slowly the old man twisted. "What is? The engagement?"
The old man took it in, turned it over. It seemed not only victory but peace, and peace with annexation.
"Very good then. I draw the veil over your road-house. Put the young woman in a flat. Put her in two flats. Nobody who is anybody ever sees anything that was not intended for them. Don't beat the drum. That is all that the right people ask and all I require, except----"
He paused, considered the annexation and added: "I wish you an excellent appetite. Austen himself was a drivelling idiot and his wife used to be a rare old girl--is still, I daresay--but they came of good stock, and the daughter has looks and no brains. You couldn't do better."
He paused again, appeared to lose himself in the past, looked up and suddenly exclaimed: "You are ridiculous in that damned thing! Oblige me by getting out."
The young man extracted himself and sat down on the malachite bench. It was more exposed than the trench and the fumes of the gas bomb that his father had hurled were hazardous still. Additional protection from them was needed and he said: "What will you do about Benny?"
The old man disliked to be questioned. On the arm of his chair he beat with his fingers a quick, brief tattoo.
"Benny belongs to the Place. His father served me there. His grandfather served yours. You don't get such people nowadays."
Negligently the young man smoothed his tie. "Very picturesque and feudal. But I don't want him."
His father did not seem to hear, or to care. He was afar, wandering from it. "Ever notice that he has only one thumb? Same way with his father. Probably a family trait. I wish there were more families like 'em. This house is full of trollops and rascals. So is Newport. The house at Newport is full of rapscallions. Believe I'll offer it to the Government for a hospital. I wish to God Sally would come over and run it. Do you ever hear from her?"