She lifted her head slowly, almost unwillingly. Though her lips were parted, she made no attempt at speech. Then the door was suddenly opened. Aaron entered in some excitement.
"Mr. Dale and some of the others are here now, sir," he announced. "I heard they were on their way when I telephoned. They would like to see you at once."
Maraton stood for a moment quite still, without replying. Aaron gazed across the table in some surprise.
"What shall I say to them?" he asked. "They are here now."
Maraton shrugged his shoulders.
"Let them come in," he directed.
CHAPTER XXIV
The three men—Peter Dale, Abraham Weavel and Graveling filed into the room a little solemnly. Maraton shook hands with the two former, but Graveling, who kept his head turned away from Julia, affected not to notice Maraton's friendly overtures.
"So you managed it all right," Peter Dale remarked. "Pretty close fit, wasn't it?"
"Seven hundred," Maraton replied. "Not so bad, considering. You see, I was a complete stranger and I am not sure that I have learnt the knack yet of that sort of platform speaking."