Part 9 (2/2)
”How many of us”--Julius Rohscheimer's coa.r.s.e voice rose above them all--”have got these notes?”
A moment's silence, wherein it became evident that five of the gentlemen present had received such communications. Mrs. Hohsmann stated that her husband had been the recipient of a note also.
”With Hohsmann,” resumed Rohscheimer, ”six of us.”
”It appears to me,” the soft voice was Antony Elschild's, ”that no time should be lost in ascertaining how many of these notes have been sent----”
”Why?” asked Rohscheimer.
”Because, from what we know of Severac Bablon, it is evident that he intends to raise this sum, or a great part of it, for this highly patriotic purpose, amongst our particular set. One is naturally anxious to learn the amount of one's share in the responsibility!”
Baron Hague inquired, in stentorian but complicated English, whether _he_ was to be expected to contribute towards the establishment of a British aerial fleet.
”You have British interests, Baron!” said Sheard, smiling.
”What about me?” said Mr. Oppner.
Replied his beautiful daughter, laughing:
”You've got Canadian interests, Pa!”
So the impending outrage--for all present felt that these notes presaged an outrage--was treated lightly enough, and the question, serious though it was felt to be, might well have given place to topics less exciting, when a buzz of conversation arose at the lower end of the table.
”Exactly the same,” came Miss Salome Hohsmann's voice, ”as the one father received!”
She was observed to be pa.s.sing something to her neighbour--Mr. Sheard.
He examined it curiously, and pa.s.sed it on to Mrs. Lacey. Thus, from hand to hand it performed a circuit of the table and came to Julius Rohscheimer.
”That's one of 'em!” He threw it down upon the cloth--a small, square correspondence card. It bore the words:
”1,000,000 is required by His Majesty's Government, immediately, in order to found an aerial service commensurate with Great Britain's urgent requirements. A fund for the purpose (under the patronage of the Marquess of Evershed and the Lord Mayor) has been opened by the _Gleaner_.”
At the foot was a seal, designed in the form of two triangles crossed.
”Whose is this?” continued Rohscheimer, and turned the card over.
He read what was neatly type-written upon the other side, and his gross, empurpled face was seen to change, to a.s.sume a patchy greyness.
The superscription was:
”To Baron Hague, Sir Leopold Jesson, Messrs. Julius Rohscheimer, John Jacob Oppner, and Antony Elschild.
_”Second Notice”_
He clutched the arms of his chair, and stood up. A dead silence had fallen.
”Where”--Rohscheimer moistened his lips--”did this come from?”
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