I was quite sure when I cabled to Cairo on the second day of the games.

I was quite sure, whilst I waited for the reply.

Now that the reply has come--I don't know." "Let me hear," said the older man.

"The launch must wait, the table at the Hasselbacken restaurant must be assigned, if need be, to other customers." Hardiman had not swamped all his kindliness in good living.
Luttrell was face to face with one of the few grave decisions which each man has in the course of his life to make; and Hardiman understood his need better than he understood it himself.

His need was to formulate aloud the case for and against, to another person, not so much that he might receive advice as, that he might see for himself with truer eyes.
"The one side is clear enough," said Luttrell with a trace of bitterness.