Ethne was unable to connect his departure from her with the receipt of any news about Feversham.

The telegram came one afternoon, and Durrance took it across to The Pool in the evening and showed it to Ethne.

There were only four words to the telegram:-- "Feversham imprisoned at Omdurman." Durrance, with one of the new instincts of delicacy which had been born in him lately by reason of his sufferings and the habit of thought, had moved away from Ethne's side as soon as he had given it to her, and had joined Mrs.Adair, who was reading a book in the drawing-room.

He had folded up the telegram, besides, so that by the time Ethne had unfolded it and saw the words, she was alone upon the terrace.

She remembered what Durrance had said to her about the prison, and her imagination enlarged upon his words.