the one before. They all fly off.
This one's father used to disappear for two or three years at a time.
This one will fly off, too. You'll see!

"He is too keen on Number One for that, I fancy. He calculates like a
mathematician. As cool as a cracksman of fame and fancy."

The Duchess dropped the fan in her lap. "My dear, I've said nothing as
bad as that about him. And there he is at the Foreign Office!"

"Yet, what has he done, Betty, after all? He has never cheated at cards,
or forged a cheque, or run away with his neighbour's wife."

"There's no credit in not doing what you don't want to do. There's no
virtue in not falling, when you're not tempted. Neighbour's wife! He
hasn't enough feeling to face it. Oh no, he'll not break the heart of
his neighbour's wife. That's melodrama, and he's a cold-blooded artist.
He will torture that sweet child over there until she poisons him, or
runs away."

"Isn't he too clever for that? She has a million!"

"He'll not realise it till it's all over. He's too selfish to see--how I
hate him!"

Lord Windlehurst smiled indulgently at her. "Ah, you never hated any
one--not even the Duke."

"I will not have you take away my character. Of course I've hated, or
I wouldn't be worth a button. I'm not the silly thing you've always
thought me."

His face became gentler. "I've always thought you one of the wisest
women of this world--adventurous, but wise. If it weren't too late, if
my day weren't over, I'd ask the one great favour, Betty, and--"

She tapped his arm sharply with her fan. "What a humbug you are--the
Great Pretender! But tell me, am I not right about Eglington?"

Windlehurst became grave. "Yes, you are right--but I admire him, too. He
is determined to test himself to the full. His ambition is boundless and
ruthless, but his mind has a scientific turn--the obligation of energy
to apply itself, of intelligence to engage itself to the farthest limit.
But service to humanity--"

"Service to humanity!" she sniffed.

"Of course he would think it 'flap-doodle'--except in a speech; but I
repeat, I admire him. Think of it all. He was a poor Irish peer, with
no wide circle of acquaintance, come of a family none too popular.
He strikes out a course for himself--a course which had its dangers,
because it was original. He determines to become celebrated--by becoming
notorious first. He uses his title as a weapon for advancement as though
he were a butter merchant. He plans care