Viscount Merrivale was eating his breakfast when he chanced upon this announcement. He was late
that morning, and, contrary to custom, was skimming through the paper at the same time. But the
paragraph brought both occupations to an abrupt standstill. He stared at the sheet for a few moments
as if he thought it was bewitched. His brown face reddened, and he looked as if he were about to say
something. Then he pushed the paper aside with a contemptuous movement and drank his coffee.