But he was a man; and men cannot easily endure so swift an obliteration of their images from the thoughts and the hearts of the ladies who have admitted that they loved them.

None the less he pressed for details.

Who was Ballantyne?
What was his position?
After all he was obviously not the millionaire to whom in a more generous moment he had given Stella.

He caught himself on a descent to the meanness of rejoicing upon that.
Meanwhile Mrs.Carruthers rippled on.
"Captain Ballantyne?
Oh, he's a most remarkable man! Older than Stella, certainly, but a man of great knowledge and insight.

People think most highly of him.