His eyes were positively gleaming with a manly fire.
"By Jove--by _Jove_!" said the Honourable John Ruffin softly.
"I thought you'd see it," said the duke complacently.
The Honourable John Ruffin rose from his chair, strode solemnly across the hearthrug, seized the duke's hand, wrung it, and in a voice trembling with emotion said: "Osterley, I have done you an injustice.

I have underrated your intellect.

Under that mild and irritated appearance you hide genius--veritable genius.

The idea is, as you say, roundabout, but it will work.

It will certainly work.