"This is official, sir," he said. Then at last he glanced
round the table.
"Lady Sarah!" he exclaimed. "Can you forgive me? But I'd
have given a hundred pounds to be the first with this!" He
glanced back at Fraide.
Lady Sarah rose and stretched out her hand. "Mr. Lakely," she
said, "I more than understand!" There was a thrill in her
warm, cordial voice, and her eyes also turned towards her
husband.
Of the whole party, Fraide alone was perfectly calm. He sat
very still, his small, thin figure erect and dignified, as his
eyes scanned the message that meant so much.
Eve, who had sprung from her seat and passed round the table
at sound of Lakely's news, was leaning over his shoulder,
reading the telegram with him. At the last word she lifted
her head, her face flushed with excitement.
"How splendid it must be to be a man!" she exclaimed. And
without premeditation her eyes and Loder's met.
In this manner came the news from Persia, and with it Loder's
definite call. In the momentary stress of action it was
impossible that any thought of Chilcote could obtrude itself.
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