The secret agent shook his head.
"No," replied he.
"That is well! The other is a frightful calamity, but even that could be worse." He seemed to hesitate for a space, then added in another tone: "You will express my sympathy to them?"
"I will," said Ashton-Kirk.
"I would not disturb them now," and Okiu gestured the idea from him. "No, that would not do. But I will leave my sorrow with you. It is fitter that it should be mentioned by an old friend of the family like yourself." Again there was a slight pause; the speaker looked at Ashton-Kirk inquiringly as he asked:
"Am I right in understanding you to say that you are an old friend of the family?"
"A friend, yes," answered Ashton-Kirk, readily. "But scarcely what could be called an old one."
"Ah!" The drooping lids almost hid the searching black eyes. "Then you have not known them long?"
"For two days merely."
"Two days!"