A general buzz of discussion followed.
"He doesn't look exactly heart-broken," one man observed.
"Hearts grow tough in the West," remarked another. "He has probably done
the breaking-off himself. Jack Merrivale, late of California, isn't the
sort of chap to stand much trifling."
A young man with quizzical eyes broke in with a laugh.
"Ask Mr. Cosmo Fletcher! He is really well up on that subject."
"Also Mr. Richard Culver, apparently," returned the first speaker.
Culver grinned and bowed.
"Certainly, sir," he said. "But--luckily for himself--he has never
qualified for a leathering from Jack Merrivale, late of California. I
don't believe myself that he did do the breaking-off. As they haven't met
more than a dozen times, it can't have gone very deep with him. And,
anyhow, I am certain the girl never cared twopence for anything except
his title, the imp. She's my cousin, you know, so I can call her what I
like--always have."
"I shouldn't abuse the privilege in Merrivale's presence if I were you,"
remarked the man who had expressed the opinion that Merrivale was not one
to stand much trifling.
* * * * *
"Well, but wasn't it unreasonable?" said Hilary St. Orme, with hands
clasped daintily behind her dark head. "Who could stand such tyranny as
that? And surely it's much better to find out before than after.
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