The dawn had become almost silvery, and the leaves of the overhanging trees were rustling in the faintest of breezes.

Presently he came back.
"What exactly are your feelings for this man, Maggie ?" he asked.
For the first time he was struck with a certain pathos in her immobile face.

She looked up at him, and there was a gleam almost of fear in her eyes.
"I don't know, Nigel," she confessed.
He moved restlessly about the room, seemed to notice for the first time the whisky and soda set out upon the sideboard and the open box of cigarettes.

He helped himself and came back.
"Did you read the papers ?" he asked.
She shook her head.
"I had no chance." "You don't know for certain what they were about ?" "I think I do," she replied.

"I believe they contained the text of the agreement between Immelan and Prince Shan.