Barker changed his hold on the reins, and stuck the whip into the bucket by his side before he answered.
"They say he has gone to get himself sworn to," he said rather slowly, and with a good show of indifference.
"I cannot see why that was necessary," answered Margaret calmly "It seems to me we all knew him very well." "Oh, nobody can understand lawyers," said Barker, and was silent, knowing how strong a position silence was, for she could know nothing more about Claudius without committing herself to a direct question.
Barker was in a difficult position.

He fully intended later to hint that Claudius might never return at all.

But he knew too much to do anything of the kind at present, when the memory of the Doctor was fresh in the Countess's mind, and when, as he guessed, he himself was not too high in her favour.

He therefore told a bit of the plain truth which could not be cast in his teeth afterwards, and was silent.
It was a good move, and Margaret was fain to take to some other subject of conversation, lest the pause should seem long.

They had not gone far before the society kaleidoscope was once more in motion, and Barker was talking his best.