"Yes, that is so."

"To carry this into practice, sir, one preliminary is required--unless
harm of another kind is to be faced. Mimi should have some protector
whom all the world would recognise. The only form recognised by
convention is marriage!"

Sir Nathaniel smiled in a fatherly way.

"To marry, a husband is required. And that husband should be you."

"Yes, yes."

"And the marriage should be immediate and secret--or, at least, not
spoken of outside ourselves. Would the young lady be agreeable to that
proceeding?"

"I do not know, sir!"

"Then how are we to proceed?"

"I suppose that we--or one of us--must ask her."

"Is this a sudden idea, Adam, a sudden resolution?"

"A sudden resolution, sir, but not a sudden idea. If she agrees, all is
well and good. The sequence is obvious."

"And it is to be kept a secret amongst ourselves?"