"I was so disgusted with the way New York was treating me that I wasn't very keen to see what it was saying of me. Besides, as I told you, I thought I did know. I supposed it was all about the hotel fuss, and my knocking down that man Milton."
"Why did you knock him down?"
"I slapped him in the face, and he fell down."
"But why did you slap him in the face?"
"I can't tell you that, Miss Dearmer."
"Well," said Lesley, looking at him always from under her lashes to see how he was taking her words, "you've been dreadfully punished, at all events."
"I don't think I deserved punishment for that."
"Don't you? Of course I don't know anything about that, but you used to be—well, rather arrogant."
"I'm not arrogant now." Loveland smiled faintly. "I'm almost inclined to think I never shall be again."
"If you're not really Lord Loveland——"