“He said something to that effect before he went up to you.”
“Oh, he did, did he?”
The slow-moving, inscrutable eye came sliding round to her.
Lady Clara’s face had assumed an expression of transparent obvious innocence, an intrusive candour which is never seen in nature save when a woman is bent upon deception.
“He examined her lungs, Charles. He did not say much, but his expression was very grave.”
“Not to say owlish,” interrupted the Minister.
“No, no, Charles; it is no laughing matter. He said that she must have a change. I am sure that he thought more than he said. He spoke of dulness and crepitation, and the effects of the African air. Then the talk turned upon dry, bracing health resorts, and he agreed that Tangier was the place. He said that even a few months there would work a change.”
“And that was all?”
“Yes, that was all.”
Lord Charles shrugged his shoulders with the air of a man who is but half convinced.