"So I go home immediately."
"Immediately?"
"By to-night's train to take the P. & O. to-morrow,"' said the old man,
bowing over his clasped hands.
"To-morrow?"
"Why not? My Secretaries can do without me. Why should I linger on a
stage on which I am no longer a leading actor but only a supernumerary?
Better make my exit with what grace I can."
Under the semi-cynical tone Gordon could see his father's emotion. He
found it impossible to utter a word.
"But I thought I would come up before going away and bring you the good
news myself, though it is almost like a father who is deposed
congratulating the son who is to take his place."
"Don't say that, sir," said Gordon.
"Why shouldn't I? And why should I gird at my fortune? It's strange,
nevertheless, how history repeats itself. I came to Egypt to wipe out
the misrule of Ismail Pasha, and now, like Ismail, I leave my son behind
me."