Old Lady Jane Morpeth appeared at this moment, and the two ladies sat down on the high oak settle that screened the fire from the window. They showed no signs of anxiety; but Monsignor perceived that their return at all to this room just now was significant. Simultaneously the young man came in again, closing the door behind him.
"Our enquiries are not answered," he said sharply. "We are trying to get into touch with another office."
No one spoke for a minute. Even to Monsignor, who still found it hard always to understand the communication-system of the time, it was obvious that something must have happened. He knew that Southminster Castle had been put into wireless touch with the great Marconi office in Parliament Square, and that a failure to be answered meant that something unexpected had happened. But it was entirely impossible to conjecture for certain what this something might be.
"That is serious?" remarked Lady Southminster, without moving a muscle.
"I suppose so," said her son, and sat down again.
Then the man who was looking out of the window turned and came back into the room, latching the shutters and putting the curtains into place.
"Well, Jack?" asked the General.
"I have counted eight or nine volors," he said; "usually there are only two at this time. I went to look for them."
"Which way?"
"Three this way and five the other."