"Thank you, Mr. Vermont," he said grimly, "I am quite well. But you, I
fear, are an invalid."
His sharp eyes glanced towards the closed motor, which was gliding round
the bend of the drive.
"No, sir, I am quite well, I assure you," Jasper replied, meekly, as if
unconscious of any irony.
"But I have learned enough wisdom to feel convinced that all journeys,
including that of life itself, should be taken as comfortably as
possible. I prefer, therefore, to have the dust and smell outside the
car instead of in. Am I not right?"
"Perfectly," returned his opponent, with a sarcastic smile; "you should
surely know your own constitution best. It was an unfortunate error on
my part."
At this moment, Adrien, who had been listening to the point-and-thrust
conversation, exceedingly ill at ease, intervened, and under some
pretext drew his father out with him into the corridor.
"I do detest that fellow so," said the old man apologetically, as though
ashamed at having displayed his feelings.
"It's a pity, sir," returned Adrien, respectfully; for his father was
the only person who dared say a word in disfavour of his friend.
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