First--as in all things--he saw the humour of it.

He, John Aldous of all men, had utterly obliterated himself, and for a _woman_.

He had even gone so far as to offer the sacrifice of his most important work.

Frankly he had told Joanne that she interested him more just now than his book.

Again he repeated to himself that it had not been a surrender--but an obliteration.