Page:Bailey - Call Mr Fortune (Dutton, 1921).djvu/189

178 "In effect, my friend, we are ridiculous. My uncle he is a dreamer—a student. He sees a thing in his mind it is logical, it is to his desire, and he conceives it done. He has been like that always. A temperament! He is not a man of the world."

"I guessed that," Reggie murmured.

"But what to do? The situation is impossible, my friend. Conceive my feelings. This young girl—she is fresh, she is superb as a morning in the mountains—and by me she is exposed to this humiliation. And I—whatever I do, I am ludicrous. I beg of you, my friend, believe that I feel it. Imagine my position."

"Imagine mine. You might lend me a razor. But hardly a tooth-brush."

"He will not touch land before Spain. Oh, yes, he is capable of it, my friend. But this young girl"

"Did you bring a tooth-brush for her?"

"There is everything for her. Maids, clothes. Oh, he has thought of everything, my uncle. He calls it her trousseau. What a man!"

"Better mutiny. Seize the yacht. Can you navigate? I can't. That was always the trouble in the pirate stories."

"Mutiny? They would all die for him. Oh, you are laughing at me. Mon Dieu! my friend, this is very serious. I beg of you, confide in me. You must have some plan. I promise you, I desire