I had scarcely ended when the reply came back.
“When did the nations agree on peace? Who are you?”
“The nations agreed on peace and made a solemn covenant that all would disarm ten days ago. The four sending this message are Professor Thomas Haldane and Miss Dorothy Haldane of New York, Richard Regnier of Savannah and James Orrington of New York.”
There was a perceptible pause this time, before the sounder resumed its motion. Then it began.
“I believe what you say. Are the nations living up to their agreements as to disarmament?”
“Completely,” I replied. “Every one of the nations is living up to the agreement in spirit and in truth. The greatest anxiety which the world feels at present is with regard to your sinking the Japanese battleship, and from fear of your future action.”
There was a long pause, and then the words came slowly.
“How can I allay that fear?”
I had been rapidly reading my sendings and my answers to the other three who sat looking eagerly at the sounder. As I read off that last question, Dorothy spoke up eagerly.