"Well, yes, I—I'm interested in the family." He telegraphed a glance of caution to the old lady; he meant to convey that the present was not a happy moment to broach the matter that was in their minds.
"I'm sorry I interrupted. Can you give me five minutes in another room, Cousin Sylvia?" He rose and waited for her.
"Oh, but can't you do anything?" blurted out the Imp suddenly.
"Eh?" His eyes under their heavy brows were fixed on her now. There was a deep-lying twinkle in them, although he still frowned ferociously. "Do what?"
"Why, something for—for Harry Tristram?"
He looked round at each of them. The twinkle was gone; the frown was not.
"Oh, was that the conference?" he asked slowly. "Well, what has the conference decided?" It was Mina whom he questioned, for which Southend at least was profoundly thankful. "He'd have bitten my head off, if the women hadn't been there," he confided to Iver afterward.
Mr Disney slowly sat down again. Mina did not perceive the significance of this action, but Lady Evenswood did.
"It's such an extraordinary case, Robert. So very exceptional! Poor Addie Tristram! You remember her?"
"Yes, I remember Addie Tristram," he muttered—"growled," Mina described it afterward. "Well, what do you want?" he asked.