"You don't seem to be ashamed of yourself."
"No, I'm not."
"You know all about Mr. Fenning?"
"Well, as much as most of us know about him. But I don't see why I shouldn't take tea with Miss Ora Pinsent."
Bowdon turned and began to walk slowly along beside Ashley; Ashley looked at his watch again and resigned himself to another five minutes. He owed something to Bowdon; he could spare him five of Ora's minutes; to confess the truth, moreover, he was a little early, although he had made up his mind not to be.
"Jewett's the ablest little cad, I know," said Ashley. "At least I think he's a cad, though I can't exactly tell you why."
"Of course he's a cad," said Bowdon, who had dined with Bob Muddock to meet him.
"There's no salient point you can lay hold of," mused Ashley; "it's pervasive; you can tell it when you see him with women, you know; that brings it out. But he's got a head on his shoulders."
"That's more than can be said for you at this moment, my friend."
"I'm enjoying myself very much, thank you," said Ashley with a radiant smile.