He returned in an hour. The High Commissioner had been gracious. It was said that Paul knew too much about him to allow of his being anything else. There were episodes; the lady was happily married, and the Commissioner was High. The news was confirmed—Lord Fairmouth was dead.
“I must tell her,” said Launa.
Paul went down to the cottage to inspect it and to order it to be immediately prepared for them.
In all this they had quite forgotten Mrs. Cooper.
The Member for Hackney arrived before tea. His business engagements were many, but he was in need of refreshment.
He found Launa in the music-room. He took her hand with sympathy. He knew how to express his emotion with the ease of a ladies’ doctor. Some people said he had no real emotions, only fictitious ones.
“What a charming room!” he said, as he viewed it and her with admiration. He changed his tone as he added, “How is she to-day?”
“Broken-hearted.”
“Ah! In what way?” His experience had not provided him with any symptoms of such a thing. “The defeat of a measure,” he began, when Launa interrupted him.
“Oh, Mr. Bolton, does anyone know? Did the other man tell of what happened last night?”