She had expressive
eyes, and they now flashed almost angrily. "All English people----" she
began, and broke off suddenly, throwing aside the papers and rising
quickly to her feet. Her eyes were fixed on White's tunic. "Is that a
medal?" she asked, hurrying towards him. "Oh, how splendid! Look, Tony,
look! A medal! Is it"--she paused, looking at it closely--"is it--the
Victoria Cross?" she asked, and stood looking from one man to the
other, her eyes glistening with something more than excitement.
"Um--yes," admitted White.
Tony Cornish had risen to his feet also. He held out his hand.
"I did not know that," he said.
There was a pause. Tony and Joan returned to their circulars in an odd
silence. The Haberdashers' Assistants seemed suddenly to have
diminished in importance.
"By-the-by," said Joan Ferriby at length, "papa wants to see you, Tony.
He has a new scheme. Something very large and very important. The only
question is whether it is not too large. It is not only in England, but
in other countries. A great international affair. Some distressed
manufacturers or something. I really do not quite know. That Mr.
Roden--you remember?--has been to see him about it."
Cornish nodded in his quick way. "I remember Roden," he answered. "The
man you met at Hombourg. Tall dark man with a tired manner."
"Yes," answered Joan. "He has been to see papa several times. Papa is
just as busy as ever with his charities," she continued, addressing
White.
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