"Oh, not at all. I am charmed to see you," he answered. He moved a little farther into the room, so that prying eyes from the building opposite could not observe him; then, with an air of great gallantry, he bent over Mrs. Beecher Monmouth's hand and laid his lips upon it.
"You will sit down and tell me your news," said the doctor.
Mrs. Monmouth accepted the offered chair.
Doctor "Voules" was of middle height, sturdily, but not heavily, built. He carried himself well, holding his head high and looking squarely and masterfully before him. His head was round, his strong, heavy-jawed face was clean shaven, and his wide mouth drooped at the corners. Both physically and intellectually the doctor was a formidable figure, but the harshness of his countenance was belied by a surface air of politeness—a politeness which appeared to be assumed, and which sat ill upon him. His air, despite his efforts of concealment, was one of lofty authority.
"You will tell me your important news," he said quietly.
"I don't know that it is important," admitted Mrs. Monmouth, "but my husband heard accidentally in the House of Commons last night that there is talk of an expedition to ——."
Voules's eyebrows moved very slightly.
"I shall be grateful to know everything your husband heard."
Then Mrs. Beecher Monmouth told him exactly, word for word, all she had managed to worm from her husband.
"He considers, then," inquired Voules, "that the expedition is to become an accomplished fact?"