United States or Turks and Caicos Islands ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
At last he dropped the paper with a gesture of satisfaction and leaned back in his chair. "Well," he said, "what d'you think of this? How's this for a complication?" Loder turned round. "I think," he said, quietly, "that we can't overestimate it." Lakely laughed and took a long pull at his cigar. "And we mustn't be afraid to let the Sefborough crowd know it, eh?"
He read: "MY DEAR CHILCOTE, Lakely is the recipient of special and very vital news from Meshed unofficial, but none the less alarming. Acts of Russian aggression towards British traders are reported to be rapidly increasing, and it is stated that the authority of the Consulate is treated with contempt.
He waved his hand to the poster of the first edition that hung before his desk. Loder, following his glance, smiled. Lakely laughed again. "They might have known it all along, if they'd cared to deduce," he said. "Did they really believe that Russia was going to sit calmly looking across the Heri-Rud while the Shah played at mobilizing? But what became of you last night?
His face was pale from his outburst and his fingers toyed restlessly with the open newspaper. "I haven't seen the 'St. George's'," he said, hastily. "Lakely is always ready to shake the red rag where Russia is concerned; whether we are to enter the arena is another matter. But what about Craig, Burnage? I think you mentioned something of a contract." "Oh, don't worry about that, sir."
For should Russia subdue the insurgent Hazaras and, laden with the honors of the peacemaker, retire across the frontier, then the political arena would remain undisturbed; but should the all-important movement predicted by Lakely become an accepted fact before Parliament rose for the Easter recess, then the first blow in the fight that would rage during the succeeding session must inevitably be struck.
"Make yourself comfortable half a second, while I skim the 'St. Stephen's'." His salutation pleased Loder. With a nod of acquiescence he crossed the office to the brisk fire that burned in, the grate. For a minute or two Lakely worked steadily, occasionally breaking the quiet by an unintelligible remark or a vigorous stroke of his pencil.
We had a regular prophesying of the whole business at Bramfell's; the great Fraide looked in for five minutes. I went on with him to the club afterwards and was there when the news came in. 'Twas a great night!" Loder's face lighted up. "I can imagine it," he said, with an unusual touch of warmth. Lakely watched him intently for a moment.
With a feeling of satisfaction he remembered Lakely's frequent and pressing suggestion that he should dine with him at Cadogan Gardens and discuss the political outlook. Lakely must have written during his absence, and Chilcote, having marked the engagement, felt no further responsibility.
"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.
His face was keen with interest as he reached her side. The hard outline of his features and the hard grayness of his eyes were softened as when he had paused to talk with Lakely. Action was the breath of his life, and his face changed under it as another's might change under the influence of stirring music or good wine.
Word Of The Day