The Duke talked of politics for a while when he came into his old love's sitting-room—and then of books and ideas, and lastly of Gerard. Was he happy with Beatrice, after all?
"Yes, they do very well together. Beatrice is bred out of all natural emotions. She is sexless and well-mannered and unconsciously humorous. They go their own ways."
"But Gerard was always an ardent lover. Has he had no emotions since the Alice Southerwood days?"
"A transient passion for Läo Delemar, and since then a deep devotion elsewhere—quite unreturned, though. It has rather improved him."
The Duke unconsciously felt relief.
"Unreturned?—that must be a new experience for him: Gerard has every quality to attract a woman."
"This one is infinitely too proud and too intelligent to waste a thought upon a married man."
"It is a girl, then! How unlike Gerard's usual taste!"
"Yes—Mordryn, shall you open Valfreyne quite soon?"