It was a small sitting-room, lined with bookshelves, illuminated
by an oil lamp which stood on a little table beside a
chintz-covered settee which had been drawn up in front of the
dying fire.
On the settee Nur-el-Din was lying asleep.
CHAPTER X. D. O. R. A. IS BAFFLED
When Barbara reached the Chief's ante-room she found it full of
people. Mr. Marigold was there, chatting with Captain Strangwise
who seemed to be just taking his leave; there was a short, fat,
Jewish-looking man, very resplendently dressed with a large
diamond pin in his cravat and a small, insignificant looking
gentleman with a gray moustache and the red rosette of the Legion
of Honor in his button-hole. Matthews came out of the Chief's
room as Barbara entered the outer office.
"Miss Mackwayte," he said, "we are all so shocked and so very,
sorry..."
"Mr. Matthews," she said hastily in a low voice, "never mind
about that now. I must see the Chief at once. It is most urgent."
Matthews gesticulated with his arm round the room.
"All these people, excepting the officer there, are waiting to
see him, Miss, and he's got a dinner engagement at eight..."
"It is urgent, Mr. Matthews, I tell you. If you won't take my
name in, I shall go in myself!"
"Miss Mackwayte, I daren't interrupt him now.
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