[He pauses with his pen poised over the book and looks vaguely horrified. What a terrible thing.]

I can assure you I'm nothing of the sort! Believe me, I would never approach a lonely lady to get at her wallet. Why do something so vulgar when her heart is the true prize a man should be winning?

[He says it with a straight face (if you can call a self-satisfied little smirk a straight face) because he genuinely means it.]