"It is a difficult life, perhaps, for his wife?"
"Of course it's a difficult life for her!
Nadine is a very fine girl. I admire her more than I can say.
She's never let drop one word of complaint.
But she's not happy, Dr. Gerard. She's just as unhappy as she can be."
Gerard nodded his head.
"Yes, I think that well might be."
"I don't know what you think about it, Dr. Gerard, but I think that there's a limit to what a woman ought to put up with!
If I were Nadine I'd put it to young Lennox straight. Either he sets to and proves what he's made of, or else - "
"Or else, you think, she should leave him?"
"She's got her own life to live. Dr. Gerard.
If Lennox doesn't appreciate her as she ought to be appreciated, well, there are other men who will."
"There is - yourself, for instance?"
The American flushed. Then he looked straight at the other with a certain simple dignity.
"That's so," he said.
"I'm not ashamed of my feelings for that lady.
I respect her and I am very, very deeply attached to her. All I want is her happiness.
If she were happy with Lennox, I'd sit right back and fade out of the picture."
"But as it is?"
"But as it is, I'm standing by!
If she wants me, I'm here!"
"You are, in fact, the 'parfait gentil' knight," murmured Gerard.
"Pardon?"
"My dear sir, chivalry only lives nowadays in the American nation!
You are content to serve your lady without hope of reward!
It is most admirable, that!
What exactly do you hope to be able to do for her?"
"My idea is to be right here at hand if she needs me."
"And what, may I ask, is the older Mrs. Boynton's attitude towards you?"
Jefferson Cope said slowly: "I'm never quite sure about that old lady. As I've told she isn't fond of making outside contacts.
But she's been different to me, she's always very gracious and treats we quite like one of the family."
"In fact, she approves of your friendship with Mrs. Lennox?"
"She does."
Dr. Gerard shrugged his shoulders.
"That is, perhaps, a little odd?"
Jefferson Cope said stiffly: "Let me assure you, Dr. Gerard, there is nothing dishonorable in that friendship.
It is purely platonic."
"My dear sir, I am quite sure of that.
I repeat, though, that for Mrs. Boynton to encourage that friendship is a curious action on her part.
You know, Mr. Cope, Mrs. Boynton interests me - she interests me greatly."
"She is certainly a remarkable woman. She has great force of character - a most prominent personality.
As I say Elmer Boynton had the greatest faith in her judgment."
"So much so that he was content to leave his children completely at her mercy from the financial point of view.
In my country, Mr. Cope, it is impossible by law to do such a thing."
Mr. Cope rose.
"In America," he said, "we're great believers in absolute freedom."
Dr. Gerard rose also.
He was unimpressed by the remark.
He had heard it made before by people of many different nationalities.
The illusion that freedom is the prerogative of one's own particular race is fairly widespread.