Sir Robert straightened himself. He had spent a bad ten minutes gazing at the distant figure. “Just so,” he said. “Very likely. And now what is it, White?”
“I’ve bad news, sir, I’m afraid,” the agent said, in an altered tone.
“What is it?”
“It’s that d——d Pybus, sir! I’m afraid that, after all——”
“They’re going to fight?”
“I’m afraid, Sir Robert, they are.”
The old gentleman’s eyes gleamed. “Afraid, sir, afraid?” he cried. “On the contrary, so much the better. It will cost me some money, but I can spare it; and it will cost them more, and nothing for it. Afraid? I don’t understand you.”
The agent, standing on the step below him, coughed dubiously. “Well, sir,” he said, “what you say is reasonable. But——”
“But! But what?”
“There is so much excitement in the country at this time——”