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〃I will make a suggestion； then；〃 he remarked as they took their places。 〃I don't know whether you will find it amusing； though。 Why shouldn't we do like so many of our friends； and get married？〃
She stared at him for a moment。 Then she laughed heartily。
〃Hugh；〃 she exclaimed； 〃I can see through you！ You've suddenly realised that this is your chance to escape a ceremony and a reception； and all that sort of thing。 I call it a most cowardly suggestion。〃
〃It rather appeals to me；〃 he persisted。 〃It may be；〃 he added； dropping his voice a little； 〃because you are looking particularly charming this evening； or it may be〃
She looked at him curiously。
〃Go on； please；〃 she murmured。
〃Or it may be；〃 he repeated； 〃a man's desire to be absolutely sure of the thing he wants more than anything else in the world。〃
There was a moment's silence。 As though by some curious instinct which they both shared； they glanced across the table to where Granet had become the centre of a little babble of animated conversation。 Geraldine averted her eyes almost at once； and looked down at her plate。 There was a shade of uneasiness in her manner。
〃You sounds very serious； Hugh；〃 she observed。
〃That is rather a failing of mine； isn't it？〃 he replied。 〃At any rate； I am very much in earnest。〃
There was another brief silence； during which Geraldine was addressed by her neighbour on the other side。 Thomson； who was watching her closely； fancied that she accepted almost eagerly the opportunity of diversion。 It was not until dinner was almost over that she abandoned a conversion into which she had thrown herself with spirit。
〃My little suggestion；〃 Thomson reminded her； 〃remains unanswered。〃
She looked down at her plate。
〃I don't think you are really in earnest；〃 she said。
〃Am I usually a farceur？〃 he replied。 〃I think that my tendencies are rather the other way。 I really mean it； Gerald。 Shall we talk about it later on this evening？〃
〃If you like；〃 she agreed simply； 〃but somehow I believe that I would rather wait。 Look at mother's eye； roving around the table。 Give me my gloves； please； Hugh。 Don't be long。〃
Thomson moved his chair next to his host's Geraldine's father； Admiral Sir Seymour Conyers； was a very garrulous old gentleman with fixed ideas about everything； a little deaf and exceedingly fond of conversation。 He proceeded to give his prospective son…in…law a detailed lecture concerning the mismanagement of the field hospitals at the front； and having disposed of that subject； he opened a broadside attack upon the Admiralty。 The rest of the men showed indications of breaking into little groups。 Ralph Conyers and Granet were sitting side by side； engrossed in conversation。 More than once Thomson glanced towards them。
〃Wish I understood more about naval affairs；〃 Granet sighed。 〃I'm a perfect ass at any one's job but my own。 I can't see how you can deal with submarines at all。 The beggars can stay under the water as long as they like； they just pop up and show their heads； and if they don't like the look of anything near； down they go again。 I don't see how you can get at them； any way。〃
The young sailor smiled in a somewhat superior manner。
〃We've a few ideas left still which the Germans haven't mopped up；〃 he declared。
〃Personally；〃 the Admiral observed； joining in the conversation； 〃I consider the submarine danger the greatest to which this country has yet been exposed。 No one but a nation of pirates； of ferocious and conscienceless huns； could have inaugurated such a campaign。〃
〃Good for you； dad！〃 his son exclaimed。 〃They're a rotten lot of beggars； of course； although some of them have behaved rather decently。 There's one thing；〃 he added； sipping his port； 〃there isn't a job in the world I'd sooner take on than submarine hunting。〃
〃Every one to his taste；〃 Granet remarked good…humouredly。 〃Give me my own company at my back； my artillery well posted； my reserves in position； the enemy not too strongly entrenched； and our dear old Colonel's voice shouting 'At them； boys！' That's my idea of a scrap。〃
There was a little murmur of sympathy。 Ralph Conyers； however； his cigar in the corner of his mouth； smiled imperturbably。
〃Sounds all right；〃 he admitted； 〃but for sheer excitement give me a misty morning； the bows of a forty…knot destroyer cutting the sea into diamonds； decks cleared for action； and old Dick in oilskins on the salute'Enemy's submarine； sir； on the port bow； sir。'〃
〃And what would you do then？〃 Granet asked。
〃See page seven Admiralty instructions this afternoon；〃 the other replied； smiling。 〃We're not taking it sitting down； I can tell you。〃
The Admiral rose and pushed back his chair。
〃I think；〃 he said； 〃if you are quite sure； all of you； that you will take no more port； we should join the ladies。〃
They trooped out of the room together。 Thomson kept close behind Ralph Conyers and Captain Granet； who were talking no more of submarines； however； but of the last ballet at the Empire。 Geraldine came towards them as they entered the drawing…room。
〃Hugh；〃 she begged； passing her arm through his； 〃would you mind playing bridge？〃 The Mulliners are going on； and mother does miss her rubber so。 And we can talk afterwards； if you like；〃 she added。
Thomson glanced across the room to where Granet was chatting with some other guests。 Young Conyers for the moment was nowhere to be seen。
〃I'll play； with pleasure； Geraldine；〃 he assented； 〃but I want to have a word with Ralph first。〃
〃He's at the telephone；〃 she said。 〃The Admiralty rang up about something and he is talking to them。 I'll tell him； if you like； when he comes up。〃
〃If you'll do that；〃 Thomson promised； 〃I won't keep him a minute。〃
The little party settled down to their gameLady Conyers； Sir Charles Hankins；a celebrated lawyer；another man and Thomson。 Geraldine； with Olive Moreton and Captain Granet； found a sofa in a remote corner of the room and the trio were apparently talking nonsense with great success。 Presently Ralph reappeared and joined them。
〃Hugh wants to speak to you；〃 Geraldine told him。
Ralph glanced at the little bridge…table and made a grimace。
〃Hugh can wait；〃 he declared； as he passed his arm through Olive's。 〃This is my last night on shore for heaven knows how long and I am going to take Olive off to see my photographs of the 'Scorpion。' Old Wilcock handed them to me out of his drawer this afternoon。〃
The two young people disappeared。 Captain Granet and Geraldine remained upon the couch； talking in low voices。 Once Thomson； when he was dummy； crossed the room and approached them。 Their conversation was suddenly suspended。
〃I told Ralph；〃 Geraldine said； looking up； 〃that you wanted to speak to him； but he and Olive have gone off somewhere。 By…the…bye； Hugh；〃 she went on curiously； 〃you didn't tell me that you'd called on Captain Granet this evening。〃
〃Well； it wasn't a matter of vital importance； was it？〃 he answered； smiling。 〃My call； in any case； arose from an accident。〃
〃Major Thomson；〃 came a voice from the other side of the room； 〃it is your deal。〃
Thomson returned obediently to the bridge