There was a silence, then:
“She’s simply a splendid specimen of womanhood,” said Cleves earnestly. “And intensely interesting to me. Why, Recklow, I haven’t known a dull moment—though I fear she has known many——”
“Why?”
“Why? Well, being married to a—a sort of temporary figurehead—shut up here all day alone with a man of no particular interest to her——”
“Don’t you interest her?”
“Well, how could I? She didn’t choose me because she liked me particularly.”
“Didn’t she?” asked Recklow, still more drily. “Well, that does make it a trifle dull for you both.”
“Not for me,” said the younger man naïvely. “She is one of the most interesting women I ever met. And good heavens!—what psychic knowledge that child possesses! She did a thing to-day—merely to amuse me——” He checked himself and looked at Recklow out of sombre eyes.
“What did she do?” inquired the older man.
“I think I’ll let her tell you—if she wishes.... And that reminds me. Why did you come down here, Recklow?”