"By Jove!" he cried, coming to a halt. "I've got a grand idea. My little
plan has succeeded so well with you that I've a good mind to try it on
my mother."
"What on earth do you mean?" I asked.
"Why shouldn't I take the bull by the horns and bring my mother and Lola
together?"
I gasped. "My dear boy," said I. "Do you want to kill me outright? I
can't stand such shocks to the imagination."
"But it would be grand!" he exclaimed, delighted. "Why shouldn't
mother take a fancy to Lola? You can imagine her roping her in for the
committee!"
I refused to imagine it for one instant, and I had the greatest
difficulty in the world to persuade him to renounce his maniacal
project. I am going to permit no further complications.
I have been busy for the past day or two setting my house in order.
I start to-morrow for Paris. All my little affairs are comfortably
settled, and I can set out on my little trip to Avernus via Paris
and the habitat of Captain Vauvenarde with a quiet conscience. I have
allayed the anxiety of my sisters, whispered mysterious encouragement
to Maisie Ellerton, held out hopes of her son's emancipation to Lady
Kynnersley, played fairy godmother to various poor and deserving
persons, and brought myself into an enviable condition of glowing
philanthropy.
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