But there are no possibilities so elastic as those of
politics. At half-past seven the House rose in a spirit of
boredom and disappointment; and at eight o'clock the lobbies,
the dining-room, the entire space of the vast building, was
stirred into activity by the arrival of a single telegraphic
message.
The new development for which Fraide had waited came indeed, but
it came with a force he had little anticipated. With a thrill of
awe and consternation men heard and repeated the astounding news
that--while personally exercising his authority on behalf of
British traders--Sir William Brice-Field, Consul-General at
Meshed, had been fired at by a Russian officer and instantly
killed.
The interval immediately following the receipt of this news
was too confused for detailed remembrance. Two ideas made
themselves slowly felt--a deep horror that such an event could
obtrude itself upon our high civilization, and a strong
personal dismay that so honored, distinguished, and esteemed a
representative as Sir William Brice-Field could have been
allowed to meet death in so terrible a manner.
Pages:
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353