"Because he's—why he's just Ricky. He has no money, you know. Didn't you know it?"
"That's the trouble—partly. Then there's no social advantage for any girl in this set marrying him. He'll have to take a lame duck or go out of his circle for a wife. And that means good-bye Ricky—unless he marries a lame duck."
"Some unattractive person of uncertain age and a million," explained Mrs. Lannis as Strelsa turned to her, perplexed.
"Ricky," said the lady with abundant teeth, "is a lightweight."
"The lightness, I think, is in his heels," said Strelsa. "He's intelligent otherwise I fancy."
"Yes, but not intellectual."
"I think you are possibly mistaken."
The profusely dentate lady looked sharply at Strelsa; Susanne Lannis laughed.
"Are you his champion, Strelsa? I thought you had met him last night for the first time."