“And do you take your constitutional? Do you go for a four-mile walk every day as the doctor told you to?”

“N‑not⁠ ⁠… always.”

“I knew you didn’t! I felt sure of that when I was in Switzerland!” she cried irritably. “Now you must go not four but six miles a day! You’ve grown terribly slack, terribly, terribly! You’re not simply getting old, you’re getting decrepit.⁠ ⁠… You shocked me when I first saw you just now, in spite of your red tie, quelle idee rouge ! Go on about Von Lembke if you’ve really something to tell me, and do finish some time, I entreat you, I’m tired.”