It wasn't his fault.

I let him drink too much champagne." "What did you do that for?
Couldn't you see he'd had enough already ?" "How was I to know?
He's nicer when he's drunk than other people are when they're sober." He looked at her critically.

"I know all about him.

What I'd like to know is what you see in him." Poppy returned his look with interest.

Coarseness in Dicky Pilkington's eyes sat brilliant and unashamed.
"Would you?
So would I.P'raps it's wot I don't see in him." Now subtlety was the last thing Dicky expected from Poppy, and it aroused suspicion.
Whatever Poppy's instructions were she had evidently exceeded them.
Poppy read his thoughts with accuracy.
"I only did what you told me.