He always ended by doing it anyway; but the quicker result was obtained by the first method.
So Malcourt went to New York next morning convinced that Portlaw's bachelor days were numbered; aware, also, that as soon as Mrs.Ascott took the helm his own tenure of office would promptly expire.

He wished it to expire, easily, agreeably, naturally; and that is why he had chosen to shove Portlaw in the general direction of the hymeneal altar.
He did not care very much for Portlaw--scarcely enough to avoid hurting his feelings by abandoning him.

But now he had arranged it so that to all appearances the abandoning would be done by Portlaw, inspired by the stronger mind of Mrs.Ascott.It had been easy and rather amusing to arrange; it saved wordy and endless disputes with Portlaw; it would give him a longed-for release from an occupation he had come to hate.
Malcourt was tired.

He wanted a year of freedom from dependence, surcease of responsibility--a year to roam where he wished, foregather with whom he pleased, haunt the places congenial to him, come and go unhampered; a year of it--only one year.

What remained for him to do after the year had expired he thought he understood; yes, he was practically certain--had always been.
But first must come that wonderful year he had planned--or, if he tired of the pleasure sooner, then, as the caprice stirred him, he would do what he had planned to do ever since his father died.