Without announcement or apology, the door was suddenly flung open and Lakely entered the room.

His face was brimming with excitement, and his eyes flashed.  In the first haste of the entry he failed to see that there were ladies in the room, And, crossing instantly to Fraide, laid an open telegram before him.

“This is official, sir,” he said.  Then at last he glanced round the table.

“Lady Sarah!” he exclaimed.  “Can you forgive me?  But I’d have given a hundred pounds to be the first with this!” He glanced back at Fraide.

Lady Sarah rose and stretched out her hand.  “Mr. Lakely,” she said, “I more than understand!” There was a thrill in her warm, cordial voice, and her eyes also turned towards her husband.

Of the whole party, Fraide alone was perfectly calm.  He sat very still, his small, thin figure erect and dignified, as his eyes scanned the message that meant so much.

Eve, who had sprung from her seat and passed round the table at sound of Lakely’s news, was leaning over his shoulder, reading the telegram with him.  At the last word she lifted her head, her face flushed with excitement.

“How splendid it must be to be a man!” she exclaimed.  And without premeditation her eyes and Loder’s met.

In this manner came the news from Persia, and with it Loder’s definite call.  In the momentary stress of action it was impossible that any thought of Chilcote could obtrude itself.  Events had followed each other too rapidly, decisive action had been too much thrust upon him, to allow of hesitation; and it was in this spirit, under this vigorous pressure, that he made his attack upon the government on the day that followed Fraide’s luncheon party.

That indefinable attentiveness, that alert sensation of impending storm. that is so strong an index of the parliamentary atmosphere was very keen on that memorable first of April.  It was obvious in the crowded benches on both sides of the House—­in the oneness of purpose that insensibly made itself felt through the ranks of the Opposition, and found definite expression in Fraide’s stiff figure and tightly shut lips—­in the unmistakable uneasiness that lay upon the ministerial benches.

But notwithstanding these indications of battle, the early portion of the proceedings was unmarked by excitement, being tinged with the purposeless lack of vitality that had of late marked all affairs of the Sefborough Ministry; and it was not until the adjournment of the House for the Easter recess had at last been moved that the spirit of activity hovering in the air descended and galvanized the assembly into life.  It was then, amid a stir of interest, that Loder slowly rose.

Many curious incidents have marked the speech-making annals of the House of Commons, but it is doubtful whether it has ever been the lot of a member to hear his own voice raised for the first time on a subject of vital interest to his party, having been denied all initial assistance of minor questions asked or unimportant amendments made.  Of all those gathered together in the great building on that day, only one man appreciated the difficulty of Loder’s position —­and that man was Loder himself.