“You shall see Mr. Leith again before he goes.”
He looked at his mother, suddenly became very grave, and went slowly out of the room. It was evident to Dion that Mrs. Clarke knew how to make people obey her when she was in earnest.
As soon as Jimmy had gone Mrs. Clarke rang for the waiter to take away the tea-table.
“Then we shan’t be bothered,” she remarked. “I hate people coming in and out when I’m trying to have a quiet talk.”
“So do I,” said Dion.
The waiter rolled the table out gently and shut the door.
Mrs. Clarke sat down on a sofa.
“Do light a cigar,” she said. “I know you want to smoke, and I’ll have a cigarette.”
She drew out of a little case which lay on a table beside her a Turkish cigarette and lit it, while Dion lighted a cigar.
“So you’re really going back to Constantinople?” he began. “Are you taking Jimmy with you?”