He looked across the room to a table beyond that at which Norgate and his friends were playing.
"Heard the news, Monty ?" he asked.
"No! What is it ?" was the prompt enquiry.
"Poor old Baring--" The newcomer stopped short.

For the first time he noticed Mrs.Benedek.
She half rose from her chair, however, and her eyes were fixed upon him.
"What is it ?" she exclaimed.

"What has happened ?" There was a moment's awkward silence.

Mrs.Benedek snatched the paper away from the man's fingers and read the little paragraph out aloud.

For a moment she was deathly white.
"What is it ?" Selingman demanded.
"Freddy Baring," she whispered--"Captain Baring--shot himself in his room at the Admiralty this afternoon! Some one telephoned to him.