"You see, Miss Lind, if that invention of mine succeeds, I may become a noted man; and it is fashionable nowadays for society to patronize geniuses who hit on a new illustration of what people call the marvels of science.

I am ambitious.
As a celebrity, I might win the affections of a duchess.

Who knows ?" "I should not advise you to marry a duchess.

I do not know many of them, as I am a comparatively humble person; but I am sure you would not like them." "Aye.

And possibly a lady of gentle nurture would not like me." "On the contrary, clever people are so rare in society that I think you would have a better chance than most men." "Do you think my manners would pass?
I learnt to dance and bow before I was twelve years old from the most experienced master in Europe; and I used to mix with all the counts, dukes, and queens in my father's opera company, not to mention the fashionable people I have read about in novels." "You are jesting, Mr.Conolly.I do not believe that your manners give you the least real concern." "And you think that I may aspire in time--if I am successful in public--to the hand of a lady ?" "Surely you know as much of the world as I.Why should you not marry a lady, if you wish to ?" "I am afraid class prejudice would be too strong for me, after all." "I dont think so.