"That animal's a brute, isn't he ?" He took a threatening step towards it, and the ostrich sidled away as if it really didn't matter to him where he took his morning walk.
"Yes ?" Luttrell repeated.
"I went to a supper-party given by Sir Charles Hardiman." "Oh ?" Luttrell's voice was careless enough.

But his eyes went watchfully to Hillyard's face, and he seemed to shut suddenly all expression out of his own.
"Hardiman introduced me to a friend of yours." Luttrell nodded.
"Mrs.Croyle ?" "Yes." "She was well ?" "In health, yes!" "I am very glad." Unexpectedly some feeling of relief had made itself audible in Luttrell's voice.

"It would have troubled me if you had brought me any other news of her.

Yes, that would have troubled me very much.

I should not have been able to forget it," he said slowly.
"But she is unhappy." Luttrell walked on in silence.