Drake gave a sigh of relief when Gaunt entered accompanied by Captain Drake.
“I want a chat with you,” the former said to him, and he rose so promptly that Lady Ethel smiled.
“You welcome the interruption,” she said coldly, and then turned graciously to Captain Drake, who had occupied the chair vacated by his brother.
“Wasn’t it a ripping meeting? I think Mr. Gaunt spoke splendidly,” the latter said eagerly.
“Yes. He certainly aroused great enthusiasm. But do you think it will do much material good? Things will go on as before, and the natives will suffer just the same,” she answered quietly.
“I am not so sure about that, for it is evident that England is waking up. The papers are pitching it a bit more strongly, and who knows that we may not be able to force the government to move.”
“You seem almost as enthusiastic as your brother and Mr. Gaunt,” she remarked, and gave him a quick look from beneath her lashes, which brought the color to his cheeks.
“I have been doing a great deal of hard thinking since I came back from West Africa. I never was a serious kind of chap like Edward, but I’ve always admired him. He has a wonderful way with him, and has compelled me to see things through his own eyes. Of course I have always known that the state of affairs in the Congo was a crying scandal, but it never worried me much till I heard Mr. Gaunt speak. Now I am with them heart and soul,” he cried earnestly.
“Can you tell me what made my brother-in-law take up the Congo question?” she asked casually.
“There can be only one reason. He is acting from conviction,” he answered wonderingly.