“It merely crossed my mind, sir, that for a gentleman of your description Miss Wickham is not a suitable mate.”
“What do you mean by a gentleman of my description?”
“Well, sir—”
“Jeeves!”
“I beg your pardon, sir. The expression escaped me inadvertently. I was about to observe that I can only asseverate—”
“Only what?”
“I can only say that, as you have invited my opinion—”
“But I didn’t.”
“I was under the impression that you desired to canvass my views on the matter, sir.”
“Oh? Well, let’s have them, anyway.”
“Very good, sir. Then, briefly, if I may say so, sir, though Miss Wickham is a charming young lady—”
“There, Jeeves, you spoke an imperial quart. What eyes!”
“Yes, sir.”
“What hair!”
“Very true, sir.”
“And what espièglerie , if that’s the word I want.”
“The exact word, sir.”