"Well," my interlocutor declared, "I am very fond of ladies' society.
I think when it's superior there's nothing comes up to it. I've got
two ladies here myself; I must make you acquainted with them."

I rejoined that I should be delighted, and I inquired of my friend
whether he had been long in Europe.

"Well, it seems precious long," he said, "but my time's not up yet.
We have been here fourteen weeks and a half."

"Are you travelling for pleasure?" I asked.

My companion turned his head again and looked at me--looked at me so
long in silence that I at last also turned and met his eyes.

"No, sir," he said presently. "No, sir," he repeated, after a
considerable interval.

"Excuse me," said I, for there was something so solemn in his tone
that I feared I had been indiscreet.

He took no notice of my ejaculation; he simply continued to look at
me. "I'm travelling," he said, at last, "to please the doctors.
They seemed to think they would like it."

"Ah, they sent you abroad for your health?"

"They sent me abroad because they were so confoundedly muddled they
didn't know what else to do."