He thought that such a statement might be inhospitable.

They went on with their tea in silence, the duke frowning over his luckless lot.
Then the Honourable John Ruffin said in a distinctly patient and long-suffering tone: "Well, what is it you want me to do for you this time ?" "I don't want you to do anything for me!" said the duke sharply.
"Then what have you come for ?" said the Honourable John Ruffin in the same distinctly patient and long-suffering tone.
The duke hesitated; then he said: "Well, I want you to help me.

I've got an idea." The Honourable John Ruffin looked skeptical, indeed, and he said a little wearily: "_You_ have?
What is it ?" The duke cleared his throat, assumed a portentous air, and said: "I tell you I'm getting devilish sick of this business--living by myself, without any family, and that sort of thing.

And I've come to the conclusion that it's time Caroline and I were reconciled--" "High time," said the Honourable John Ruffin readily.
"I'm fond of Caroline--in a way--" "Your own way--an obscure, secret way," said the Honourable John Ruffin in a cheerful tone.
The duke scowled at him, but went on: "You don't know how contrary Caroline is--" "How should I?
I'm not married to her," said the Honourable John Ruffin patiently.
"Well, she is.

And I've been thinking that if she found she was getting her way without interference, she wouldn't want it any longer." The keen grey eyes of the Honourable John Ruffin sparkled: "By Jove! This is subtlety! Marriage makes Machiavellis of us all.
Continue, Solomon," he said, with more respect in his tone.
"But I couldn't think of any way of letting her know she was getting it.