She read: "The very man. Send him along to me early to-morrow. Hope he can start immediately."
"Oh, how splendid!" she exclaimed with a little gasp of happiness. "How utterly splendid! Thank heaven!"
"Yes. Thank heaven," Austin acquiesced gravely. "I forgot to mention to you that Lord Overton knows Dick personally," he added, after a pause. "They met at my house the last time Dick was in London."
"This _is_ good news," said Viviette. "At last I can give him a birthday present worth having."
"He will not be here for his birthday," said Austin, in cold, even tones. "He must catch the mail to-night."
Viviette echoed: "To-night?"
"And in all probability he will sail for Vancouver in a day or two. It won't be worth his while to come back here."
She laid a hand on her heart, which fluttered painfully.
"Then--then--we'll never see him again?"
"Probably not."