"The young lady is there, in the hall, sir. Pardon me saying it, she seems much upset to-night."
"Mr. Gessner is still away?"
"On his yacht, sir. We think he is going to visit South America."
Alban waited for no more, but went straight on, his eyes half blinded by the glaring lights, his hands outstretched as though feeling for other hands to grasp them.
"Lois, I am here as you wished."
A deep sob answered him, a hot face was pressed close to his own.
"Alban," she said, "my father is dead!"