“Oh, no! Not that! I only mean that this thing is very secret.”
“Alicia,” pronounced the Countess, “when a man specifically conceals anything from his mother-in-law, you may be quite certain that she ought to be informed of it at once.”
“I—I can't, mamma!”
“A trip to Germany—for it is there, I presume, he has gone—back to the scenes of his bachelorhood, unprotected by the influence of his wife! Do you call that a becoming procedure?”
“But he hasn't gone to Germany.”
“He has no business anywhere else!”
“You forget his diplomatic duties.”
“Ah! He professes to have gone on diplomatic business?”
“Professes, mamma?” exclaimed the poor Baroness. “How can you say such a thing! He certainly has gone on a diplomatic mission!”
“To Paris, no doubt?” suggested Lady Grillyer, with an intonation that made it quite impossible not to contradict her.