She longed to interest him by her comments and questions, but she found that they had a most discouraging effect on him.

Redoubling her efforts, she at last reduced him to silence, of which she availed herself to remark, with great earnestness, that science was a very wonderful thing.
"How do you know ?" he said, a little bluntly.
"I am sure it must be," she replied, brightening; for she thought he had now made a rather foolish remark.

"Is Lord Carbury a very clever scientist ?" Conolly looked just grave enough to suggest that the question was not altogether a discreet one.

Then, brushing off that consideration, he replied: "He has seen a great deal and read a great deal.

You see, he has great means at his disposal.