It was indeed a very long telegram, one of such as are commonly sent at the expense of the country, and it came from the War Office.

The gist of it was that attempts had been made to communicate with him at an address he had given in Cornwall, but the messages had been returned, and finally inquiry at Hawk's Hall had given a clue.

He was directed to report himself "early to-morrow" (the telegram had been sent off on the previous night) to take up an appointment which would be explained to him.

There was, it added, no time to lose, as the ship was due to sail within twenty-four hours.
"There!" said Isobel, "I knew it was something of the sort.

This," she added with a flash of inspiration, "is the result of the meddling of that old General Cubitte.