How upset, for instance, Varick had been about Miss Pigchalke's crazy advertisement.

He, Panton, had felt quite sorry that he had said anything about it.
While putting on his tie, he told himself that what the dear fellow wanted now was a good, sensible second wife.

And then, as he formulated that thought to himself, the young man--for he was still quite a young man--stopped what he was doing, and rubbed his hands joyfully.

Why, of course! What a fool he had been never to think of it before--though to be sure it would really have been almost indecent to have thought of it before.

Helen Brabazon?
The very woman for Lionel Varick! Such a marriage would be the making of his highly-strung, fine-natured friend.
As he hurriedly finished dressing, Panton plumed himself on his cleverness.