“I will not believe it! You have shown that you can behave differently! You do not try to strip me of all I possess⁠—why all those unfortunate youths you play with?”

“You see, you possess so little,” the Duke excused himself.

“Neither do you sneer at me in your loathsome fashion. Why?”

“Because I have hardly ever any desire to. I like you.”

“Tare an’ ouns! you must like someone else in the world besides me?”

“I can think of no one. And I do not exactly worship the ground you tread on. The contemplation of my brothers appals me. I have loved various women, and shall no doubt love many more⁠—”