"You will be about the last man who will be told," replied the Duchess.

Now, at this moment, he had, as she knew, come direct from the house of Mr.Gresham, and she asked her question in her usual spirit.

"And what are they going to make you now ?" But he did not answer the question in his usual manner.

He would customarily smile gently at her badinage, and perhaps say a word intended to show that he was not in the least moved by her raillery.
But in this instance he was very grave, and stood before her a moment making no answer at all, looking at her in a sad and almost solemn manner.

"They have told you that they can do without you," she said, breaking out almost into a passion.