"Some foolscap paper," she repeated. "There is some in your study?"
"Yes, yes, in my writing-table," he said absently.
Rachel went quickly out of the room. At that moment the hall door bell rang violently. Rendel started and went to the window. In the phase of acute tension in which he found himself, every unexpected sound carried an untold significance, but he was not prepared for what this one betokened: Lord Stamfordham in the street, dismounting from his horse. Stamfordham was accustomed to ride every morning from eight till nine, alone and unattended. Thacker hurried out to hold the horse. Rendel followed him and met Stamfordham on the doorstep. He led the way quickly across the hall into his study and shut the door. They both felt instinctively that greetings were superfluous.
"Have you seen the Arbiter?" Stamfordham said.
"Yes," said Rendel, looking him straight in the face with eager expectation.
"So have I," said Stamfordham, "at the German Embassy. I had not seen it before leaving home, but I saw a poster at the corner, and I went straight to Bergowitz to ask him what it meant; he is as much in the dark as I am."
"In the dark!" said Rendel, looking at him amazed. "What! but—was it not you who published it?"
"I publish it?" said Stamfordham. "Do you mean to say you thought I had?"
"Of course I did! who else?" said Rendel.