MDDM(8)/Ch.11 flirting with florinda

[JL]

am i right, guys, in thinking that the urbane and witty
conversation Charles has with Florinda (from 111.27 "In my
experience, he *might* say, [...] " - my emphasis) occurs
only in his head? ("days late")

I reckon his actual response to her disarming "Greeting"
would have involved a mumble and a shuffle and possibly
a blush.

I may be wrong; apparently disaffected with those "soiled
encounters 'neath the Moon" he has after all deliberately
set out to "chat up women" (110.27).
But to me this is a wonderful sketch of Mason as Prufrock,
frustrated and unable to present the impressive Pepe LePew
(pugh?) persona he would like.

and yet, his shy self seems to be popular enough with the
ladies...

JL