‘You remember Mr. Annesley?’ asked the Duke.
‘It is difficult to forget him. He always seemed to me to think that the world was made on purpose for him to have the pleasure of “cutting” it.’
‘Yet he was your admirer!’
‘Yes, and once paid me a compliment. He told me it was the only one that he had ever uttered.’
‘Oh, Charley, Charley! this is excellent. We shall have a tale when we meet. What was the compliment?’
‘It would be affectation in me to pretend that I have forgotten it. Nevertheless, you must excuse me.’
‘Pray, pray let me have it!’
‘Perhaps you will not like it?’
‘Now, I must hear it.’
‘Well then, he said that talking to me was the only thing that consoled him for having to dine with you and to dance with Lady Shropshire.’