And Cotherstone, glancing past Mallalieu's broad shoulder at a mirror, saw that he himself had become startlingly pale and haggard.

He looked twenty years older than he had looked when he shaved himself that morning.
"Aren't you well ?" demanded Mallalieu.

"What is it ?" Cotherstone made no answer.

He walked past Mallalieu and looked into the outer office.

The clerk had gone, and the place was only half-lighted.
But Cotherstone closed the door with great care, and when he went back to Mallalieu he sank his voice to a whisper.
"Bad news!" he said.