Lady Ada’s lips twitched.
“And he is as good as he looks, as the books say. There is not a man in the room who can do the things men do as well as he can.”
Esmeralda thought of The Rosebud’s eulogies, and said, absently:
“So I’ve heard.”
“Yes,” said Lady Ada, “he is a conspicuous figure in London society—indeed, everywhere—one of our great men; and one day he will be greater—he will be a duke.”
She spoke as if she were speaking to a child.
“Yes, I know,” said Esmeralda, indifferently. “Every one seems to be a duke or an earl, or something with a handle to his name.”
“I suppose that you are surprised he isn’t married?” said Lady Ada, loathing herself as she spoke.
“I never thought of it,” said Esmeralda; “I suppose he hasn’t found any one he likes.”
It was an innocent thrust, but it went home.