The next moment his face fell.

He staggered and sank half fainting into a chair which Mr.Merrick pushed toward him.
Patsy ran for some water.

Maud Stanton fanned the man with a folded newspaper.

Arthur Weldon picked up the telegram which had _fluttered_ from Le Drieux's grasp and deliberately read it.

Then he, too, sank gasping into a chair.
"Listen, girls!" he cried, his voice shrill with emotion.