If--she's dead, it doesn't." "D'ye mean it ?" "I always mean wot I say." The click of an indicator on the desk showed that Verity's private telephone had been switched on from the general office.

By sheer force of routine, David picked up a receiver and placed it to his ear.

The sub-editor of the newspaper whose representative had not been gone five minutes asked if he was speaking to Mr.Verity.
"Yes," said David, "wot's up now ?" and he motioned to Bulmer to use a second receiver.
"A cablegram from Pernambuco states specifically that the captain and crew of the _Andromeda_ fought their way across the island of Fernando Noronha, rescued Dom De Sylva, seized a steam launch, attacked and captured the German steamship _Unser Fritz_, and landed the insurgent leader at Maceio.

The message goes on to say that the captain's name is Coke, and that he is accompanied by his daughter.

.