Herosefromthescooped-outredvelvetseatwithafeelingofconstrictionabouthisvitals。Hewouldneversleepwiththisgoingoninhim！And，takingcoatandhatagain，hewentout，movingeastward。InTrafalgarSquarehebecameawareofsomespecialcommotiontravellingtowardshimoutofthemouthoftheStrand。Itmaterialisedinnewspapermencallingoutsoloudlythatnowordswhatevercouldbeheard。Hestoppedtolisten，andonecameby。”Payper！Special！UltimatiumbyKrooger！Declarationofwar！”
Soamesboughtthepaper。Thereitwasinthestoppress……！Hisfirstthoughtwas：’TheBoersarecommittingsuicide。’Hissecond：
’IsthereanythingstillIoughttosell?’Ifsohehadmissedthechance——therewouldcertainlybeaslumpinthecityto-morrow。Heswallowedthisthoughtwithanodofdefiance。Thatultimatumwasinsolent——soonerthanletitpasshewaspreparedtolosemoney。
Theywantedalesson，andtheywouldgetit；butitwouldtakethreemonthsatleasttobringthemtoheel。Thereweren’tthetroopsoutthere；alwaysbehindtime，theGovernment！Confoundthosenewspaperrats！Whatwastheuseofwakingeverybodyup?
Breakfastto-morrowwasquitesoonenough。Andhethoughtwithalarmofhisfather。TheywouldcryitdownParkLane。Hailingahansom，hegotinandtoldthemantodrivethere。