Mrs. Willoughby did not display her usual alacrity to engage in the oft-repeated combat as to Miss Le Mesurier’s merits.  Her face grew serious again.

‘Does Clarice care for him, you think?’

Fielding was admiring Mrs. Willoughby’s eyes at the moment, and answered absently.  ‘Conway, you mean?’

’No, no!  How wilfully irritating you are!  This Mr. Drake, of course.  By the way, I suppose he will get on?’ She spoke in a voice which implied regret for the supposition, and almost appealed for a denial of it.

’I should think there’s no doubt of it.  They tell me he has just sent a force up country in Matanga to locate concessions.  You hit harder than you knew at lunch, for the force carries machine-guns.  Oh yes, he’ll get on.  He has been seen arm-in-arm with Israel Biedermann in Throgmorton Street.  You must tell that to a city man to realise what it means.’

‘But do you think Clarice cares for him?’

‘Miss Le Mesurier cares for—­’ he began, and broke off with a question.  ‘Do you read Latin?’ He was answered with an exasperated shake of the head.  ’Because Miss Le Mesurier always reminds me of an ode of Horace, Finished, exquisite to the finger-tips, but still lacking something.  Soul, is it?  Perhaps that lack makes the perfection.  But what’s your objection to Drake?’

Mrs. Willoughby started a little.  ‘Objection?’ she laughed.  ’Why?  I never told you that I had one.’

‘You told not only me, but every one at lunch—­Drake himself included.’

Mrs. Willoughby looked doubtfully at Fielding.  ‘Well,’ she said, ’there is something.  I feel inclined to explain it to you.  You may be able to advise me.  Not now!’ she went on as Fielding bent forward with a very unusual interest.  ’Let me see.  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday’—­she ticked off the days upon her fingers.  ’Thursday afternoon.  Could you come and see me then?’

‘Yes.’

’Thanks.  Good-bye, and don’t forget; five o’clock.  I shall be in to no one else.’  And Mrs. Willoughby drove off with the smile again upon her face.

CHAPTER V

Whether Fielding was correct in limiting Miss Le Mesurier’s capacity for continued seriousness, she was undeniably serious when she called upon Mrs. Willoughby at half-past one on the following day.  There were dark shadows under her eyes, and the eyes themselves seemed to look pathetic reproaches at a world which had laid upon her unmerited distress.  Mrs. Willoughby was startled at her appearance, and imagined some family disaster.

‘Why, Clarice, what has happened?’ she exclaimed.  ’You look as if you hadn’t slept all night.’

Clarice kissed her, and for answer sighed wearifully.  Mrs. Willoughby was immediately relieved.  The trouble was due, she realised, to some new shuffle of Clarice’s facile emotions.  She returned the kiss, and refrained from further questions; but, being a practical woman, she rang the bell and ordered the servant to lay two places for lunch.