The duke gnashed his teeth for a change. But he regained some control of himself and said with moderate calmness:
"Well, of course it's only children's nonsense. But you may as well bear in mind that Ronald's going to marry Lady Marion."
"I don't think you'll get him to," said Pollyooly quickly but dispassionately. "He says she's such a little duff—" Her natural politeness stopped the word on her tongue. "They—they don't get on well together."
"They'll have to!" said the duke stormily.
Pollyooly said nothing; but she did not look hopeful.
The duke waited for a word of encouragement. It did not come. He crumpled up the telegram, threw it into the grate, and said:
"But the real question is: will Ronald keep the secret? Will he be able to?"
"Oh, yes: he'll keep it quite easily," said Pollyooly confidently. "He's splendid at keeping secrets."
The duke gazed at her gloomily and said gloomily:
"I can't conceive how on earth you and Ronald got to know one another so well."