But
the allusion to an English Duke told intensely on Dolly, who had
suspected that he had a noble rival. 'English Dukes aren't so
easily got,' he said.
'Very likely not. I might have expressed my meaning better had I
said an English Prince.'
'That's quite out of the question,' said Dolly. 'They can't do
it,--by Act of Parliament,--except in some hugger-mugger left-handed
way, that wouldn't suit you at all.'
'Mr Longstaff,--you must forgive me,--if I say--that of all the
gentlemen--I have ever met in this country or in any other--you
are the--most obtuse.' This she brought out in little disjointed
sentences, not with any hesitation, but in a way to make every
word she uttered more clear to an intelligence which she did not
believe to be bright. But in this belief she did some injustice to
Dolly. He was quite alive to the disgrace of being called obtuse,
and quick enough to avenge himself at the moment.
'Am I?' said he. 'How humble-minded you must be when you think me
a fool because I have fallen in love with such a one as yourself.
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