"It's the most important act of a man's life," he said. "An ordinary man's—a curate's—a grocer's. And for Tanqueray—for any one who creates——"
"For any one who creates," said Nina, "nothing's important outside his blessed creation."
"And this lady, I imagine," said Miss Bickersteth, "will be very much outside it."
Nicky raised his dark eyes and gazed upon them. "Good heavens! But a man wants a woman to inspire him."
"George doesn't," said Jane. "You may trust him to inspire himself."
"You may," said Nina. "In six months it won't matter whether George is married or not. At least, not to George."
She rose, turning on Nicky as if something in his ineffectual presence maddened her. "Do you suppose," she said, "that woman counts? No woman counts with men like George Tanqueray."
"She can hold you back," said Nicky.
"You think so? You haven't got a hundred horse-power genius pulling you along. When he's off, fifty women hanging on to him couldn't hold him back."
She smiled. "You don't know him. The first time that wife of his gets in his way he'll shove her out of it. If she does it again he'll knock her down and trample her under his feet."