"And you, Lois."
They exchanged a firm pressure. Then Nicholson rose.
"I must be going," he said. "Will you tell Travers that I shall be around at the office to-morrow morning? If by any chance he has any shares going, I should be obliged if he would allot them to me."
Lois rose also. Her face was turned toward the door.
"If you wait one moment, you will see him yourself," she said. "I think I hear him coming upstairs."
She was right. The next minute the door opened quickly and Travers entered. Evidently something unusual had happened. In one hand he held an open telegram. His face was crimson with excitement and his lips parted as if with a hasty announcement. But as he saw the two standing at the table watching him, he stopped short, looking from one to the other with a flash of amused curiosity in his eyes.
"Hullo, you both here?" he said cheerfully. "How cozy you look. See here, Lois, I've just had a telegram from the Rajah. He wants me to come at once. Can you be ready to start in three days?"
"For Marut?" A rush of color filled her pale cheeks.
"Yes, of course. By the bye, Nicholson, that's your destination, isn't it? We might travel together."
"I think not," was the quiet answer. "I have orders to start next week."