"Have you bad news ?" He glanced towards the paper.

Slowly Armour folded the paper up, and then rose unsteadily.

"Gordon," he said, "give me a glass of brandy." He turned towards the cupboard in the room.

The trader opened it, took out a bottle, and put it on the table beside Armour, together with a glass and some water.

Armour poured out a stiff draught, added a very little water, and drank it.