"What is it?" demanded the Under-Secretary. The form of an usher showed itself in the half-opened doorway.
He entered, and, turning towards the Under-Secretary, said: "Excuse me, sir." Then, addressing Colonel Hofferman: "Captain Loreuil sends me to tell Colonel Hofferman that he has returned, and has a communication of extreme urgency to lay before him."
"The captain must wait!" cried Hofferman, in a harsh, authoritative tone.
But the usher, fulfilling his orders, replied:
"The captain anticipated this answer, Colonel, and told me to add that the communication cannot wait."
The usher withdrew. Hofferman glanced questioningly at the Under-Secretary.
"Go to him, Colonel, and return as soon as possible."
The Under-Secretary addressed Juve:
"The Government is greatly annoyed by all these incidents, which are assuming enormous proportions.... Are you aware that rumours of war are becoming wide-spread?... Public opinion is in a most unsettled state.... Things are bad on the Bourse, too—going from bad to worse!... Really, it is all most distressing!"
With a movement of sympathetic acquiescence, Juve said gently: