"It is very unfortunate to admire you, Doris, if admiration brings dislike."
They rode home again, while Colonel Clifford turned with a smile to his companion.
"That looks like a settled case," he said.
"What do you mean by a settled case?" was the irritable reply. "I defy any man to understand his own language in these degenerate days."
"A settled case means that, to all appearances the queen of the season, the feted, flattered Lady Doris Studleigh is in love with our young poet, the latest London celebrity."
"A young poet?—who is he?" for suddenly there flashed into his mind the words Doris Brace had so poetically used to him:
"My lover is a gentleman and a poet."
At the time he had thought it idle bombast, intended only to heighten her value in his eyes—yet it might have been true. He looked up with unusual interest.
"Who is he, Clifford?" he repeated.
"I can hardly tell you, except that he is Earle Moray, a great protege and favorite of the Duke of Downsbury, of Lord Linleigh, and of the public in general, for he is a charming writer. He is also member for Anderley—he took his seat last week."