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atmosphere on minds and temperaments unused to such
luxuries。 The Yarkand manner was not popular。〃
〃And the contents of the paper；〃 said the nephew；
〃did they show the influence of the new style？〃
〃Ah！〃 said Sir Lulworth； 〃that was the exciting
thing。 In home affairs； social questions； and the
ordinary events of the day not much change was
noticeable。 A certain Oriental carelessness seemed to
have crept into the editorial department； and perhaps a
note of lassitude not unnatural in the work of men who
had returned from what had been a fairly arduous journey。
The aforetime standard of excellence was scarcely
maintained； but at any rate the general lines of policy
and outlook were not departed from。 It was in the realm
of foreign affairs that a startling change took place。
Blunt； forcible； outspoken articles appeared； couched in
language which nearly turned the autumn manoeuvres of six
important Powers into mobilisations。 Whatever else the
DAILY INTELLIGENCER had learned in the East； it had not
acquired the art of diplomatic ambiguity。 The man in the
street enjoyed the articles and bought the paper as he
had never bought it before； the men in Downing Street
took a different view。 The Foreign Secretary； hitherto
accounted a rather reticent man； became positively
garrulous in the course of perpetually disavowing the
sentiments expressed in the DAILY INTELLIGENCER'S
leaders； and then one day the Government came to the
conclusion that something definite and drastic must be
done。 A deputation； consisting of the Prime Minister；
the Foreign Secretary； four leading financiers； and a
well…known Nonconformist divine； made its way to the
offices of the paper。 At the door leading to the
editorial department the way was barred by a nervous but
defiant office…boy。
〃 'You can't see the editor nor any of the staff；'
he announced。
〃 'We insist on seeing the editor or some
responsible person；' said the Prime Minister； and the
deputation forced its way in。 The boy had spoken truly；
there was no one to be seen。 In the whole suite of rooms
there was no sign of human life。
〃 'Where is the editor？' 'Or the foreign editor？'
'Or the chief leader…writer？ Or anybody？'
〃In answer to the shower of questions the boy
unlocked a drawer and produced a strange…looking
envelope； which bore a Khokand postmark； and a date of
some seven or eight months back。 It contained a scrap of
paper on which was written the following message：
〃 'Entire party captured by brigand tribe on
homeward journey。 Quarter of million demanded as ransom；
but would probably take less。 Inform Government；
relations； and friends。'
〃There followed the signatures of the principal
members of the party and instructions as to how and where
the money was to be paid。
〃The letter had been directed to the office…boy…in…
charge； who had quietly suppressed it。 No one is a hero
to one's own office…boy； and he evidently considered that
a quarter of a million was an unwarrantable outlay for
such a doubtfully advantageous object as the repatriation
of an errant newspaper staff。 So he drew the editorial
and other salaries； forged what signatures were
necessary； engaged new reporters； did what sub…editing he
could； and made as much use as possible of the large
accumulation of special articles that was held in reserve
for emergencies。 The articles on foreign affairs were
entirely his own composition。
〃Of course the whole thing had to be kept as quiet
as possible； an interim staff； pledged to secrecy； was
appointed to keep the paper going till the pining
captives could be sought out； ransomed； and brought home；
in twos and threes to escape notice； and gradually things
were put back on their old footing。 The articles on
foreign affairs reverted to the wonted traditions of the
paper。〃
〃But；〃 interposed the nephew； 〃how on earth did the
boy account to the relatives all those months for the
non…appearance … 〃
〃That；〃 said Sir Lulworth； 〃was the most brilliant
stroke of all。 To the wife or nearest relative of each
of the missing men he forwarded a letter； copying the
handwriting of the supposed writer as well as he could；
and making excuses about vile pens and ink； in each
letter he told the same story； varying only the locality；
to the effect that the writer； alone of the whole party；
was unable to tear himself away from the wild liberty and
allurements of Eastern life； and was going to spend
several months roaming in some selected region。 Many of
the wives started off immediately in pursuit of their
errant husbands； and it took the Government a
considerable time and much trouble to reclaim them from
their fruitless quests along the banks of the Oxus； the
Gobi Desert； the Orenburg steppe； and other outlandish
places。 One of them； I believe； is still lost somewhere
in the Tigris Valley。〃
〃And the boy？〃
〃Is still in journalism。〃
THE BYZANTINE OMELETTE
SOPHIE CHATTEL…MONKHEIM was a Socialist by
conviction and a Chattel…Monkheim by marriage。 The
particular member of that wealthy family whom she had
married was rich； even as his relatives counted riches。
Sophie had very advanced and decided views as to the
distribution of money： it was a pleasing and fortunate
circumstance that she also had the money。 When she
inveighed eloquently against the evils of capitalism at
drawing…room meetings and Fabian conferences she was
conscious of a comfortable feeling that the system； with
all its inequalities and iniquities； would probably last
her time。 It is one of the consolations of middle…aged
reformers that the good they inculcate must live after
them if it is to live at all。
On a certain spring evening； somewhere towards the
dinner…hour； Sophie sat tranquilly between her mirror and
her maid； undergoing the process of having her hair built
into an elaborate reflection of the prevailing fashion。
She was hedged round with a great peace； the peace of one
who has attained a desired end with much effort and
perseverance； and who has found it still eminently
desirable in its attainment。 The Duke of Syria had
consented to come beneath her roof as a guest； was even
now installed beneath her roof； and would shortly be
sitting at her dining…table。 As a good Socialist； Sophie
disapproved of social distinctions； and derided the idea
of a princely caste； but if there were to be these
artificial gradations of rank and dignity she was pleased
and anxious to have an exalted specimen of an exalted
order included in her house…party。 She was broad…minded
enough to love the sinner while hating the sin … not that
she entertained any warm feeling of personal affection
for the Duke of Syria； who was a comparative stranger；
but still； as Duke of Syria； he was very； very welcome
beneath her roof。 She could not have explained why； but
no one was likely to ask her for an explanation； and most
hostesses envied her。
〃You must surpass yourself to…night； Richardson；〃
she said complacently to her maid； 〃I must be looking my
very best。 We must all surpass ourselves。〃
The maid said nothing； but from the concentrated
look in her eyes and the deft play of her fingers it was
evident that she was beset with the ambition to surpass
herself。
A knock came at the door； a quiet but peremptory
knock； as of some one who would not be denied。
〃Go and see who it is；〃 said Sophie； 〃it may be
something about the wine。〃
Richardson held a hurried conference with an
invisible messenger at the door； when she returned there
was noticeable a curious listlessness in place of her
hitherto alert manner。
〃What is it？〃 asked Sophie。
〃The household servants have 'downed tools；'
madame；〃 said Richardson。
〃Downed tools！〃 exclaimed Sophie； 〃do you mean to
say they've gone on strike？〃
〃Yes； madame；〃 said Richardson； adding the
information： 〃It's Gaspare that the trouble is about。〃
〃Gaspare？〃 said Sophie wanderingly； 〃the emergency
chef！ The omelette specialist！〃
〃Yes； madame。 Before he became an omelette
specialist he was a valet； and he was one of the strike…
breakers in the great strike at Lord Grimford's two years
ago。 As soon as the household staff here learned that
you had engaged him they resolved to ‘down tools' as a
protest。 They haven't got any grievance against you
personally； but they demand that Gaspare should be
immediately dismissed。〃
〃But；〃 protested Sophie； 〃he is the only man in
England who understands how to make a Byzantine omelette。
I engaged him specially for the Duke of Syria's visit；
and it would be impossible to replace him at short
notice。 I should have to send to Paris