"I hope you and Lady Mary had a pleasant journey abroad," said Lord Popplecourt. Lord Popplecourt, being aware that he had been chosen as a son-in-law, felt himself called upon to be familiar as well as pleasant. "I often thought of you and Lady Mary, and wondered what you were about."
"We were visiting lakes and mountains, churches and picture galleries, cities and salt-mines," said the Duke.
"Does Lady Mary like that sort of thing?"
"I think she was pleased with what she saw."
"She has been abroad a great deal before, I believe. It depends so much on whom you meet when abroad."
This was unfortunate, because it recalled Tregear to the Duke's mind. "We saw very few people whom we knew," he said.
"I've been shooting in Scotland with Silverbridge, and Gerald, and Reginald Dobbes, and Nidderdale,—and that fellow Tregear, who is so thick with Silverbridge."
"Indeed!"
"I'm told that Lord Gerald is going to be the great shot of his day," said Lady Cantrip.
"It is a distinction," said the Duke bitterly.