Presently he heard her coming into the room behind him, crossing it, stepping out upon the terrace.
"Nigel! Are you asleep?"
"Asleep!" he said. "At this hour!"
For once there was an unnatural sound in his voice, a note of carelessness that was forced. He jumped up from his chair, scattering his letters on the ground.
"You haven't read your letters all this time!"
"Not yet; not all of them, at least," he said, bending to pick them up. "I've been reading one from my brother, Harwich."
"From Lord Harwich?" She sent a sharp look to him. "Is it bad news? Is Lord Harwich ill?"
"No, Ruby."
"Then what's the matter?"
"The matter? Nothing! On the contrary, it's a piece of good news."