'Not yet, I fear. He is determined to be alone. I wish it were
otherwise, as I am sure he would better bear his sorrow, if he
would go about with other men.'

'No doubt he would suffer less,' said Tregear. Then there was a
pause. Each wished that the other would introduce the matter which
both knew was to be the subject of their conversation. But Tregear
would not begin. 'When I left them all at Florence,' he said, 'I
little thought that I would ever see her again.'

'You had been intimate with them, Mr Tregear?'

'Yes; I think I may say that I have been intimate with them. I had
been at Eton and Christ Church with Silverbridge, and we have
always been much together.'

'I have understood that. Have you and the Duke been good friends?'

'We have never been enemies.'

'I suppose not that.'

'The Duke, I think, does not much care about young people. I
hardly know what he used to do with himself. When I dined with
them, I saw him, but I did not often do that. I think he used to
read a good deal, and walk about alone. We were always riding.'

'Lady Mary used to ride?'