Not yet, but I've had to use every trick and device I can think of to prevent him.
Fouldes
Look here, I'm going to play this game with my cards on the table.
Lady Frederick
Then I shall be on my guard. You're never so dangerous as when you pretend to be frank.
Fouldes
I'm sorry you should think so badly of me.
Lady Frederick
I don't. Only it was a stroke of genius when Nature put the soul of a Jesuit priest into the body of a Yorkshire squire.
Fouldes
I wonder what you're paying me compliments for. You must be rather afraid of me.
[They look at one another for a moment.
Lady Frederick
Well, let's look at these cards.
Fouldes
First of all, there's this money you've got to raise.
Lady Frederick
Well?
Fouldes
This is my sister's suggestion.
Lady Frederick
That means you don't much like it.
Fouldes
If you'll refuse the boy and clear out – we'll give you forty thousand pounds.
Lady Frederick
I suppose you'd be rather surprised if I boxed your ears.
Fouldes
Now, look here, between you and me high falutin's rather absurd, don't you think so? You're in desperate want of money, and I don't suppose it would amuse you much to have a young hobbledehoy hanging about your skirts for the rest of your life.
Lady Frederick
Very well, we'll have no high falutin! You may tell Lady Mereston that if I really wanted the money I shouldn't be such an idiot as to take forty thousand down when I can have fifty thousand a year for the asking.
Fouldes
I told her that.
Lady Frederick
You showed great perspicacity. Now for the second card.
Fouldes
My dear, it's no good getting into a paddy over it.
Lady Frederick
I've never been calmer in my life.
Fouldes
You always had the very deuce of a temper. I suppose you've not given Charlie a sample of it yet, have you?
Lady Frederick
[Laughing.] Not yet.
Fouldes
Well, the second card's your reputation.
Lady Frederick
But I haven't got any. I thought that such an advantage.
Fouldes
You see Charlie is a young fool. He thinks you a paragon of all the virtues, and it's never occurred to him that you've rather gone the pace in your time.
Lady Frederick
It's one of my greatest consolations to think that even a hundred horse-power racing motor couldn't be more rapid than I've been.