"And what do you say?"
"Oh, pride's tolerable in anybody except a lover," she declared.
"Well, I've known lovers too humble. I told one so once; he believed me, went in, and won."
"You gave him courage, not pride, Mr Tristram."
"Perhaps that's true. He's very likely got the pride by now." He smiled at his thoughts of Bob Broadley.
"And you've settled down in the new groove?" she asked.
He hesitated a moment. "Oh, nearly. Possibly
there's still a touch of the 'Desdichado,' about me. His would be the only shield I could carry, you see."
"Stop! Well, I forgive you. You're not often bitter about that. But you're very bitter about something, Mr Tristram."
"I want to work, and nobody will in August. You can't get the better of your enemies if they're with their families at Margate or in the Engadine."