She agreed to it. "Yes, indeed. Do all your staff officers perform so creditably, Duke? They put the rest quite in the shade."
"Yes, I often wonder where would Society be without my boys?" he replied. "Your brother acquits himself very well, but I believe that young scamp, Lennox, is the best of them. There he goes - but his partner is too heavy on her feet! Audley has the advantage of him in that respect."
"Yes," she acknowledged. "Lady Barbara dances very well."
"Audley's a fortunate fellow," said the Duke decidedly. "Won't thank me for taking him away from Brussels, I daresay. Don't blame him! But it can't be helped."
"You are leaving us, then?"
"Oh yes - yes! for a few days. No secret about it: I have to visit the Army."
"Of course. We shall await your return with impatience, I assure you, praying the Ogre may not descend upon us while you are absent!"
He gave one of his sudden whoops of laughter. "No fear of that! It's all nonsense, this talk about Bonaparte! Ogre! Pooh! Jonathan Wild, that's my name for him!" He saw her look of astonishment, and laughed again, apparently much amused, either by her surprise or by his own words.
She was conscious of disappointment. He had been described to her as unaffected: he seemed to her almost inane.