What?
Eighteenth?
Humph! What time did your office receive it ?...

Eh?
Ten a.m.?
Then, sir, I should like to know what it was doing in your office till six p.m.This officer did not receive it till six-thirty.

What?
He was out?
Yes, very likely, but it reached his mess at six-thirty: it is so endorsed....

Colonel Lear has had the matter under consideration?
Good.

Kindly ask Colonel Lear to come to the telephone." He leaned back, and glanced up at Graham, taking him in with a grave smile.