‘It was so,’ said Brehgert

’No doubt;’—­and Mr Longestaffe assumed a great deal of dignity.

’Yes; it was so.  I had promised your daughter when she was good enough to listen to the proposition which I made to her, that I would maintain a second house when we should be married.’

‘It was impossible,’ said Mr Longestaffe,—­meaning to assert that such hymeneals were altogether unnatural and out of the question.

’It would have been quite possible as things were when that proposition was made.  But looking forward to the loss which I afterwards anticipated from the affairs of our deceased friend, I found it to be prudent to relinquish my intention for the present, and I thought myself bound to inform Miss Longestaffe.’

‘There were other reasons,’ muttered...