No, I'm
going to tell him one solid lump of truth which he will listen to--a
truth that O'Donoghue will back up; that you'd back up yourself if you
were there; that even Doyle would be forced to stand over if he was put
into a witness box on his oath. But I can't spend the whole day
explaining things to you. I must go in and hustle Simpkins a bit.
There's no reason in the world that I can see why he shouldn't go up to
Ballymoy House and propose this afternoon. Then I must see O'Donoghue
and make arrangements about to-morrow. I shall also, thanks to your
churlishness, have to borrow a bicycle for myself. Then I must look up
that doddering old ass Callaghan, and tell him to precipitate matters a
bit if I succeed in hunting Simpkins up to Ballymoy House. If I fail
to head off the judge--I don't expect to fail, but if by any chance I
do--we shall have no time to spare, and must have Simpkins definitely
committed to the marriage as soon as possible. Not that it will really
be much use if the judge gets at him. Simpkins is just the sort of
dishonourable beast who'd seize on any excuse to wriggle out of an
engagement; particularly as he'll know that Miss King is scarcely in a
position to go into court and get damages for breach of promise.
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