Christina regarded Kevin as "Satan in person," and adored him. His Satanic qualities came not from his looks-though Kevin did indeed look a little like Satan-but from the fact that he "defended the wicked for the sake of worldly gain." And she adored him because he was good-looking, and a possibly reclaimable sinner, and because he praised her baking.
"I hope it's a souffle, then, and not that meringue stuff. Do you think that Macdermott could be lured into coming down to defend them at Norton Assizes?"
"I think he is much too busy for that, even if he were interested. But I'm hoping that one of his dogs-bodies will come."
"Primed by Macdermott."
"That's the idea."
"I really don't see why Marion should have to slave to provide Macdermott with lunch. Does he realise that she has to prepare and clear away and wash up every single thing, to say nothing of carting them to and fro a day's journey to that antediluvian kitchen?"
"It was Marion's own idea that he should come to lunch with them. I take it that she considers the extra trouble worth while."
"Oh, you were always crazy about Kevin; and you simply don't know how to begin to appreciate a woman like Marion. It's-it's obscene that she should be wasting her vitality on household drudgery, a woman like that. She should be hacking her way through jungles, or scaling precipices, or ruling a barbarous race, or measuring the planets. Ten thousand nit-wit blondes dripping with mink have nothing to do but sit back and have the polish on their predatory nails changed, and Marion carts coal. Coal! Marion! And I suppose by the time this case is finished they won't have a penny to pay a maid even if they could get one."
"Let us hope that by the time this case is finished they are not doing hard labour by order."
"Robert, it couldn't come to that! It's unthinkable."