"She may be ill, for all I know. How do I know that she is not ill?"
"Illness, my dear Leavesley, is one of those things——"
"I know—but the question is, how am I to find out?"
"Could you not apply to their family physician? I should go to him, frankly——"
"But I don't know who their doctor is—do talk sense. See here! could you call and ask—ask did she get home all right, and that sort of thing?"
"Most certainly, with pleasure, if it would relieve your feelings. Anything—anything I can do, my dear Leavesley, in an emergency like this you can count on me to do."
"You needn't mention my name."
"I shall carefully abstain."
"Unless she asks, you know."
"Certainly, unless she asks."