Sylvester witnessed the signature, and passed the document to his chief.
CHAPTER XXI
THE BOLTED DOOR
The moment he had that vital document safe in his breast-pocket, Lars Larssen was a changed man. His mask of cool indifference and his assumption of perfect leisure were thrown aside. His face was drawn with lines of anxiety as he snapped a rapid stream of orders at Sylvester:
"Send a wireless to the 'Aurelia' to put back at once to Plymouth. 'Phone Paddington to have a special ready for me in half-an-hour. 'Phone my house to pack me a portmanteau and send it to Paddington by fast car to catch the special. Get my office car round at once. Tell Bates and Carew and Grasemann I'd like them to travel with me to Plymouth to talk business. Let me know when all that's moving. Hurry!"
Sylvester sped away to execute his orders.
Larssen looked up at the portrait of his little boy, and the cablegram fluttered to the ground.
"What's the matter?" asked Olive.
"Pneumonia. Dangerously ill."
"Poor little chap!"