“Rather, she fears me. But she is intrigued, for all that. I persecute her, as you call it, for her own (and my) ultimate good. But they quit Bath in a few days, and then, nous verrons !” He rose. “What of Honest Dick?”

“Don’t call him by that odious name! I will not have it!”

“Odious, my dear? Odious? You would have reason an I called him Dis honest Dick.”

“Don’t! Don’t!” she cried, covering her ears. His Grace laughed softly.

“Oh, Lavinia, you must get the better of these megrims of yours, for there is nought that sickens a man sooner, believe me.”