He held a little folded paper in his hand.

At sight of it Henshaw turned in his chair and faced Sloan with a wistful glance.
"Good ?" "Not very, sir." Henshaw rose slowly and frowned like the king on the messenger who bears tidings of the lost battie.
"Then very bad ?" "I'm afraid so." "Very well.

Let me have the message.

You may go." He took the slip of paper cautiously, as if it were dangerous in itself, and then called back the operator as the latter reached the door.
"Come back a minute.

Sloan, you're a good boy--a very good boy.
Faithful, intelligent; you know your business.