At that moment, so strong is the fleshly man in even the most highly evolved being, he could have wished that she had loved a monster for his soul, rather than this stripling for his beauty. The power of vivid visualisation is one of a Latin's chief tortures when unrequited love mocks him. Amaldi could see the beauty of Sophy and Loring in each other's arms as plainly as though they had stood enlaced before him.
He had said good-night rather abruptly.
As he walked off along the terrace, Belinda had asked scampishly of Loring:
"Well, Morry, what d'you think of my dago mash?"
"I don't think of him," had been the surly retort.
"Well, I do. I think he's a peach. He's simply stunning to look at anyhow. So dark and sort of holding his breath at one. A marquis, too, let me tell you. Don't you think I'd make a nice marchioness?"
"For God's sake, don't play the fool with me, Linda."
She pouted.
"You won't let me play the fool with you! That's why I'm going to see if I can with my handsome dago."
Loring's reply to this had been to seize her by one arm and jerk her to her feet before him.