He was silent a long time, then he gazed again on her face.

“No mention of me , of course?” he said.

“No. No mention of you,” she said.

“No, he’d hardly swallow me as a substitute breeder.⁠—Then where are you supposed to be getting the child?”

“I might have a love affair in Venice,” she said.

“You might,” he replied slowly. “So that’s why you’re going?”

“Not to have the love affair,” she said, looking up at him, pleading.

“Just the appearance of one,” he said.