She looked up at him reproachfully, saying: “I don’t know.” He broke into a laugh.

“Then I’m damned if I do,” he said.

There was a long pause of silence, a cold silence.

“Well,” he said at last. “It’s as your Ladyship likes. If you get the baby, Sir Clifford’s welcome to it. I shan’t have lost anything. On the contrary, I’ve had a very nice experience, very nice indeed!” and he stretched in a half suppressed sort of yawn. “If you’ve made use of me,” he said, “it’s not the first time I’ve been made use of; and I don’t suppose it’s ever been as pleasant as this time; though of course one can’t feel tremendously dignified about it.” He stretched again, curiously, his muscles quivering, and his jaw oddly set.

“But I didn’t make use of you,” she said, pleading.

“At your Ladyship’s service,” he replied.

“No,” she said. “I liked your body.”