"You think so, do you? On what ground, pray?" said Mr. Faulks, with the slight sneer of superior knowledge.
"The _Times_ man hints as much. There has long been a rumour of some change in the plan of operations, and he seems to be right in his conjecture."
"He knows nothing at all about it--how can he?" said Mr. Faulks, contemptuously.
"You must forgive my differing with you. It is not my business to say how he obtains his information, but I have generally found that he is right. Now, this great expedition--"
"Is all moonshine!" cried Mr. Faulks, losing his temper, and thrown off his guard. "It's quite a small affair--a trip round the Sea of Azof, and the reduction of Kertch."
"Neither more nor less. There is no intention at the present moment of drawing any large detachment from the siege. On the contrary, every effort is being strained to bring it to an end."
"Quite right too; it ought to be vigorously prosecuted--attack should follow attack."
"We shall hear of one or more before long," went on Mr. Faulks, growing more and more garrulous. "Our advanced trenches are creeping very near, and I expect any day to hear that the French have stormed the Mamelon, and our people the Quarries."
"Indeed? That is very interesting. And we shall take them--do you think?"
"We must. The attacking columns will be of great strength, and the attack will be preceded by a tremendous cannonade."
"So we may expect great news in the next few days?" said Mrs. Wilders, eagerly.
"More bloodshed!" added Mrs. Jones, with a deep sigh. "This terrible war!"
"You can't make omelettes without breaking eggs," said Mr. Hobson, sententiously. "The more terrible a war is, the sooner it is ended."
"We are getting very ghastly in our talk," said Mrs. Wilders. "Suppose we go into the drawing-room and have some tea."
As they passed out of the dining-room, Mr. Hobson managed to whisper a few words.
"I have squeezed him dry: that was all I wanted to know. I need not stay any longer, I think."
"Who knows? His special messenger may come down with the very latest. If so, you ought to be able to extract that from him too."
Mrs. Wilders spoke these words carelessly; but, as often happens, they correctly foretold what presently occurred.