The Baron incautiously admitted it was.
“Two table-spoonfuls every half hour!” she exclaimed; [pg 158] “why, I never heard of taking a cough-mixture in such doses. Besides, your cough doesn’t seem so very bad, Baron.”
“Ze doctor told me to take it so,” replied the Baron.
The Countess turned towards Mr Bunker and said, with a touch of suspicion in her voice, “I thought, Mr Bunker, the doctor had given no opinion.”
The Baron threw a glance of intense ferocity at his friend.
“In the Baron’s desire to spare your feelings,” replied Mr Bunker, gravely, “he has been a little inaccurate; that is not precisely an ordinary cough-mixture.”
“Oh,” said the Countess.
Lady Alicia’s attention had been strongly attracted by the bath, and suddenly she exclaimed, “Why, there are goldfish in it!”
The Baron’s nerve was fast deserting him.
“Ze doctor ordered zem,” he began—“I mean, I am fond of fishes.”