Encountering the landlord at the entrance to the hotel, “Mrs. Graham” asked to be accommodated with a bedroom, and was transferred in due course to the chamber-maid on duty at the time.  Returning to the little room behind the bar, in which the accounts were kept, Mr. Karnegie surprised his wife by moving more briskly, and looking much brighter than usual.  Being questioned, Mr. Karnegie (who had cast the eye of a landlord on the black box in the passage) announced that one “Mrs. Graham” had just arrived, and was then and there to be booked as inhabiting Room Number Seventeen.  Being informed (with considerable asperity of tone and manner) that this answer failed to account for the interest which appeared to have been inspired in him by a total stranger, Mr. Karnegie came to the point, and confessed that “Mrs. Graham” was one of the sweetest-looking women he had seen for many a long day, and that he feared she was very seriously out of health.

Upon that reply the eyes of Mrs. Karnegie developed in size, and the color of Mrs. Karnegie deepened in tint.  She got up from her chair and said that it might be just as well if she personally superintended the installation of “Mrs. Graham” in her room, and personally satisfied herself that “Mrs. Graham” was a fit inmate to be received at the Sheep’s Head Hotel.  Mr. Karnegie thereupon did what he always did—­he agreed with his wife.

Mrs. Karnegie was absent for some little time.  On her return her eyes had a certain tigerish cast in them when they rested on Mr. Karnegie.  She ordered tea and some light refreshment to be taken to Number Seventeen.  This done—­without any visible provocation to account for the remark—­she turned upon her husband, and said, “Mr. Karnegie you are a fool.”  Mr. Karnegie asked, “Why, my dear?” Mrs. Karnegie snapped her fingers, and said, “That for her good looks!  You don’t know a good-looking woman when you see her.”  Mr. Karnegie agreed with his wife.

Nothing more was said until the waiter appeared at the bar with his tray.  Mrs. Karnegie, having first waived the tray off, without instituting her customary investigation, sat down suddenly with a thump, and said to her husband (who had not uttered a word in the interval), “Don’t talk to Me about her being out of health! That for her health!  It’s trouble on her mind.”  Mr. Karnegie said, “Is it now?” Mrs. Karnegie replied, “When I have said, It is, I consider myself insulted if another person says, Is it?” Mr. Karnegie agreed with his wife.

There was another interval.  Mrs. Karnegie added up a bill, with a face of disgust.  Mr. Karnegie looked at her with a face of wonder.  Mrs. Karnegie suddenly asked him why he wasted his looks on her, when he would have “Mrs. Graham” to look at before long.  Mr. Karnegie, upon that, attempted to compromise the matter by looking, in the interim, at his own boots.  Mrs. Karnegie wished to know whether after twenty years of married life, she was