He was aware that his friends had wondered why he had married Muriel, and suspected that some of them believed her money had tempted him.

Nevertheless, he made her an affectionate as well as a considerate husband.

In business matters he practised the easy morality of a hungry beast of prey, but he had his virtues.
"Yes," he said, "that's true.

Do you find it encouraging ?" Sylvia had felt a little angry, though she had known that it was seldom wise to provoke her host.
Without waiting for her answer he continued, half seriously: "There's often one person who thinks better of us than we deserve, and I dare say I'm fortunate in that respect.

In such a case, one feels it an obligation not to abuse that person's confidence." A slight flush crept into Sylvia's face.