The driver of our automobile.
He can drive a motor car at seventy miles an hour, and mend it when it breaks down.
We are dependent on our motor cars; and our motor cars are dependent on him; so of course we are dependent on him.
MALONE.
I've noticed, madam, that every thousand dollars an Englishman gets seems to add one to the number of people he's dependent on.
However, you needn't apologize for your man: I made him talk on purpose.
By doing so I learnt that you're staying here in Grannida with a party of English, including my son Hector.
VIOLET. [conversationally] Yes.
We intended to go to Nice; but we had to follow a rather eccentric member of our party who started first and came here.
Won't you sit down? [She clears the nearest chair of the two books on it].
MALONE. [impressed by this attention] Thank you. [He sits down, examining her curiously as she goes to the iron table to put down the books.
When she turns to him again, he says] Miss Robinson, I believe?
VIOLET. [sitting down] Yes.
MALONE. [Taking a letter from his pocket] Your note to Hector runs as follows [Violet is unable to repress a start.
He pauses quietly to take out and put on his spectacles, which have gold rims]:
"Dearest: they have all gone to the Alhambra for the afternoon.
I have shammed headache and have the garden all to myself.
Jump into Jack's motor: Straker will rattle you here in a jiffy.
Quick, quick, quick.
Your loving Violet." [He looks at her; but by this time she has recovered herself, and meets his spectacles with perfect composure.
He continues slowly] Now I don't know on what terms young people associate in English society; but in America that note would be considered to imply a very considerable degree of affectionate intimacy between the parties.
VIOLET.
Yes: I know your son very well, Mr Malone.
Have you any objection?
MALONE. [somewhat taken aback] No, no objection exactly.
Provided it is understood that my son is altogether dependent on me, and that I have to be consulted in any important step he may propose to take.
VIOLET.
I am sure you would not be unreasonable with him, Mr Malone.
MALONE.
I hope not, Miss Robinson; but at your age you might think many things unreasonable that don't seem so to me.
VIOLET. [with a little shrug] Oh well, I suppose there's no use our playing at cross purposes, Mr Malone.
Hector wants to marry me.
MALONE.
I inferred from your note that he might.
Well, Miss Robinson, he is his own master; but if he marries you he shall not have a rap from me. [He takes off his spectacles and pockets them with the note].
VIOLET. [with some severity] That is not very complimentary to me, Mr Malone.
MALONE.
I say nothing against you, Miss Robinson: I daresay you are an amiable and excellent young lady.
But I have other views for Hector.
VIOLET.
Hector may not have other views for himself, Mr Malone.
MALONE.
Possibly not.
Then he does without me: that's all.
I daresay you are prepared for that.
When a young lady writes to a young man to come to her quick, quick, quick, money seems nothing and love seems everything.
VIOLET. [sharply] I beg your pardon, Mr Malone: I do not think anything so foolish.
Hector must have money.
MALONE. [staggered] Oh, very well, very well.
No doubt he can work for it.