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〃May I askdo you mind？〃 he began；〃have you been engaged to him long？〃
She looked away for a moment。 Her tone； when she replied； was meant to convey some slight annoyance at the question。
〃About three months。〃
Captain Granet kicked a pebble away from the path in front of him with his sound foot。
〃I should think he must be a very good surgeon；〃 he remarked in a measured tone。 〃Looks as though he had lots of nerve； and that sort of thing。 To tell you the truth； though； he rather frightens me。 I don't think that he has much sympathy with my type。〃
She became a little more indulgent and smiled faintly as she looked at him。
〃I wonder what your type is？〃 she asked reflectively。
〃Fairly obvious； I am afraid；〃 he confessed； with a sigh。 〃I love my soldiering； of course； and I am ashamed to think how keen I have been on games； and should be still if I had the chance。 Outside that I don't read much； I am not musical； and I am very much predisposed to let the future look after itself。 There are thousands just like me；〃 he continued thoughtfully。 〃We don't do any particular harm in the world but I don't suppose we do much good。〃
〃Don't be silly；〃 she protested。 〃For one thing； it is splendid to be a capable soldier。 You are just what the country wants to…day。 But apart from that I am quite sure that you have brains。〃
〃Have I？〃 he murmured。 〃Perhaps it's the incentive I lack。〃
They were silent for a few moments。 Then they began to talk more lightly。 They discussed dogs and horses； their mutual friends； and their engagements for the next few days。 They did not once refer to Thomson。 Presently Geraldine paused to speak to some friends。 Granet leaned upon his stick in the background and watched her。 She was wearing a plain tailor made suit and a becoming little hat； from underneath which little wisps of golden hair had somehow detached themselves in a fascinating disorder。 There was a delicate pink colour in her cheeks； the movements and lines of her body were all splendidly free and graceful。 As she talked to her friends her eyes for the moment seemed to have lost their seriousness。 Her youth had reasserted itselfher youth and splendid physical health。 He watched her eagerly； and some shadow seemed to pass from his own facethe shadow of his suffering or his pain。 He； too； seemed to grow younger。 The simplest and yet the most wonderful joy in life was thrilling him。 At last she bade farewell to her friends and came smiling towards him。
〃I am so sorry to have kept you all this time！〃 she exclaimed。 〃Lady Anne has just told me the time and I am horrified。 I meant to walk here for an hour and we have been here for two。 Stop that taxi for me； please。 I cannot spare the time even to walk home。〃
He handed her into the cab and whistled for the dogs； who all scrambled in after her。
〃Thanks to much for looking after a helpless cripple；〃 he said pleasantly； as they shook hands。 〃You mustn't grudge the time。 Doing your duty to the country； you know。〃
He tactfully avoided any mention of a future meeting and was rewarded with a little wave of her hand from the window of the cab。 He himself left the Park at the same time； strolled along Piccadilly as far as Sackville Street and let himself into his rooms。 His servant came forward to meet him from the inner room； and took his cap and stick。
〃Any telephone messages； Jarvis？〃
〃Nothing； sir。〃
Granet moved towards the easy…chair。 On the way he stopped。 The door of one of the cupboards in the sideboard was half open。 He frowned。
〃Haven't I told you； Jarvis； that I wish those cupboards kept locked？〃 he asked a little curtly。
The man was staring towards the sideboard in some surprise。
〃I am very sorry； sir；〃 he said。 〃I certainly believed that I locked it last night。〃
Granet opened it wide and looked inside。 His first glance was careless enough； then his expression changed。 He stared incredulously at the small array of bottles and turned swiftly around。
〃Have you moved anything from here？〃
〃Certainly not； sir；〃 was the prompt reply。
Granet closed the cupboard slowly。 Then he walked to the window for a moment； his hands behind his back。
〃Any one been here this morning at all； Jarvis？〃 he inquired。
〃A man for the laundry； sir； and a person to test the electric light。〃
〃Left alone in the room at all？〃
〃The electric light man was here for a few minutes； sir。〃
The master and servant exchanged quick glances。 The latter was looking pale and nervous。
〃Is anything missing； sir？〃 he asked。
〃Yes！〃 Granet replied。 〃Did you notice the gentleman who called last eveningSurgeon…Major Thomson？〃
〃Yes； sir！〃
〃You haven't seen him since？ He hasn't been here？〃
〃No； sir！〃
Granet stood； for a moment； thinking。 The servant remained motionless。 The silence in the room was ominous； so； also； was the strange look of disquietude in the two men's faces。
〃Jarvis；〃 his master said at last； 〃remember this。 I am not finding fault。 I know you are always careful。 But from tonight be more vigilant than ever。 There is a new hand in the game。 He may not suspect us yet but he will。 You understand； Jarvis？〃
〃Perfectly； sir。〃
The man withdrew noiselessly。 Once more Granet walked to the window。 He looked down for a few minutes at the passers…by but he saw nothing。 Grave thoughts were gathering together in his mind。 He was travelling along the road of horrors and at the further end of it a man stood waiting。 He saw himself draw nearer and nearer to the meeting his name almost frame itself upon his lips； the name of the man whom he had grown to hate。
CHAPTER IX
Considering the crowded state of the waiting…room and the number of highly important people who were there for the same purpose； Surgeon…Major Thomson seemed to have remarkably little difficulty in procuring the interview he desired。 He was conducted by a boy scout into a room on the second floor of the War Office； within a few minutes of his arrival。 A tall； grey…haired man in the uniform of a general looked up and nodded with an air of intimacy as soon as the door had been closed。
〃Sit down； Thomson。 We've been expecting you。 Any news？〃
〃I have come to you for that； sir；〃 the other replied。
The General sighed。
〃I am afraid you will be disappointed；〃 he said。 〃I received your report and I went to a certain official myselfsaw him in his own house before breakfast this morning。 I had reports of three other men occupying responsible positions in the city； Thomson； against whom there was really tangible and serious evidence。 Our friend had the effrontery almost to laugh at me。〃
There was a little glitter in Thomson's eyes。
〃These damned civilians！〃 he murmured softly。 〃They've done their best to ruin Great Britain by crabbing every sort of national service during the last ten years。 They feed and pamper the vermin who are eating away the foundations of the country； and； damn it all； when we put a clear case to them； when we show them men whom we know to be dangerous； they laugh at us and tell us that it isn't our department！ They look upon us as amateurs and speak of Scotland Yard with bated breath。 My