"Ah, but I should have had to begin that earlier!" he exclaimed with ingenuous promptitude.
Mrs. Beever gave a laugh of despair. "Years and years earlier!"
"I mean," returned Tony with a blush, "that from the first of her being here I made a point of giving her the impression of all the good I thought of Paul."
His hostess continued sarcastic. "If it was a question of making points and giving impressions, perhaps then you should have begun later still!" She gathered herself a moment; then she brought out: "You should have let her alone, Tony Bream, because you're madly in love with her!"
Tony dropped into the nearest chair; he sat there looking up at the queen-mother. "Your proof of that's my plea for your son?"
She took full in the face his air of pity for her lapse. "Your plea was not for my son—your plea was for your own danger."
"My own 'danger'?" Tony leaped to his feet again in illustration of his security. "Need I inform you at this time of day that I've such a thing as a conscience?"
