noon in May
From which it may be suspected that even Ludovic Quayle had his hours of innocent self-deception . Be that , however , as it may , certain it is that in pursuit of this pastime he one day presented to her the peculiar case of Richard Calmady for discussion , and that , not without momentous , though indirect , result . It happened thus . One noon in May , Ludovic had the happiness of finding himself seated beside Miss St. Quentin in the Park , watching the endless string of passing carriages and the brilliant crowd on foot . Sir Reginald Aldham had left his green chair -- placed on the far side of the young lady 's -- and leaned on the railings talking to some acquaintance . `` A gay maturity , '' Ludovic remarked with his air of patronage , indicating the elder gentleman 's shapely back . `` The term ` old boy ' has , alas , declined upon the vernacular , and been put to base uses of jocosity , so it is a forbidden one .