Indeed, I do not believe that
he had, at any time, any idea of making any one his mistress. That
sounds queer; but I believe it is quite true as a statement of
character.
It was, I believe, one of Leonora's priests--a man of the world--who
suggested that she should take him to Monte Carlo. He had the
idea that what Edward needed, in order to fit him for the society
of Leonora, was a touch of irresponsibility. For Edward, at that
date, had much the aspect of a prig. I mean that, if he played polo
and was an excellent dancer he did the one for the sake of keeping
himself fit and the other because it was a social duty to show
himself at dances, and, when there, to dance well. He did nothing
for fun except what he considered to be his work in life. As the
priest saw it, this must for ever estrange him from Leonora --not
because Leonora set much store by the joy of life, but because she
was out of sympathy with Edward's work. On the other hand,
Leonora did like to have a good time, now and then, and, as the
priest saw it, if Edward could be got to like having a good time
now and then, too, there would be a bond of sympathy between
them. It was a good idea, but it worked out wrongly.
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