"Very well between them, I believe. That sickening cad Ferdinand is circulating rumours--that they can never have any children--but they are for his own ends. I must arrange to meet them when I come up next time--I hear that the family are enchanted with Amaryllis--" "She is a thing of flesh and blood and flame--I could love her wildly did I think it were wise." Denzil glanced sharply at his friend. He had not often known him to hesitate when attracted by a woman-- "What aspect does the unwisdom take?" "Certain absorption--I have other and terribly important things to do. The husband is most worthy--one wonders what the next few years will bring. Their temperaments must be as the poles. "No one seems to think of temperament when he marries, or heredity, or anything, but just desire for the woman--or her money--or something quite outside the actual fact." Denzil lit another cigarette. "Marriage appears a perfect terror to me--how could one know one was going to continue to feel emotion towards some one who might prove to be the most awful physical or mental disappointment on intimate acquaintance? I believe _affaires de convenance_ selected with thought-out reasoning are the best." Verisschenzko shrugged his shoulders. "That is not necessary. If the brain is disciplined, it is in a condition to use its judgment, even when in love, and ought therefore to be able to resist the desire to mate if the woman's character or tendencies are unsuitable, but most men's brains are only disciplined in regard to mental things, and have no real control over their physical desires. I have been this morning with Stanislass Boleski--there is a case and a warning. Stanislass was a strong man with a splendid brain and immense ambition, but no dominion over his senses, so that Succubus has completely annihilated all force in him. He should have strangled her after the first _etreinte_ as I should have done, had I felt that she could ever have any power over me!" Denzil smiled--Stepan was such a mixture of tenderness and complete savagery. "I always thought the Russian character was the most headstrong and undisciplined in the world, and took what it desired regardless of costs. But you belie it, old boy!" "I early said to myself on looking at my countrymen--and especially my countrywomen--these people are half genius, half fool; they have all the qualities and ruin most of them through being slaves, not masters to their own desires. If with his qualities a Russian could be balanced and deductive, and rule his vagrant thoughts, to what height could he not attain!" "And you have attained." "I am on the road, but did not affairs of vital importance occupy me at the moment I might be capable of ancient excess!" "It is as well for the head of the Ardayre family that you are occupied then!" and Denzil smiled, and then he said, his thoughts drifting back to what interested him most: