She spoke in a very martial and sporting way, and rang for tea.
This was good of its kind, and when I had eaten pretty well everything, after handing her each dish first, she asked me if I would like an egg, and, of course, I said I would. Then she ordered the old servant to boil two eggs; and the old servant did so, and I ate them both. We talked of the War, and, funnily enough, I quite forgot all about the "Turbot" till a clock chimed on the mantelshelf the hour of five.
This, as it were, reminded me of my mission.
"I must soon go back to the station," I said, "so perhaps you will now be so kind as to tell me about 'Turbot.'"
"And who is 'Turbot'?" she asked.
So I had to explain that we were all called fish, owing to a silly joke, and I also hoped that she would not think that I meant anything rude to her nephew by mentioning him in that way. She was not in the least annoyed, and said:
"Ralph came to me on Saturday, and he left me on Sunday morning."
"Do you know where he has gone?" I asked.
And she said: "I haven't the slightest idea where he has gone, Travers."
"That's very serious," I said, "because your nephew's guardian hasn't the slightest idea, either."