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〃And why； mother？〃
〃Because I consider Hugh is a great judge of character。 Because we have known Hugh since he was a boy； and we have known Captain Granet for about a week。〃
Geraldine rose to her feet。
〃You don't like Captain Granet； mother。〃
〃I do not dislike him；〃 Lady Conyers replied thoughtfully。 〃I do not see how any one could。〃
〃Hugh does。 He hinted things about himthat he wasn't honestand then forbade me to tell him。 I think Hugh was mean。〃
Lady Conyers glanced at the clock。
〃You had better go and get ready； dear； if you have promised to be at Ranelagh at half…past ten；〃 she said。 〃Will you just remember this？〃
〃I'll remember anything you say； mother；〃 Geraldine promised。
〃You're just a little impulsive； dear； at times； although you seem so thoughtful；〃 Lady Conyers continued。 〃Don't rush at any conclusion about these two men。 Sometimes I have fancied that there is a great well of feeling behind Hugh's silence。 And more than thatthat there is something in his life of which just now he cannot speak； which is keeping him living in great places。 His abstractions are not ordinary ones； you know。 It's just an idea of mine； but the other daywell； something happened which I thought rather queer。 I saw a closed car turn into St。 James's Park and； evidently according to orders； the chauffeur drove very slowly。 There were two men inside； talking very earnestly。 One of them was Hugh； the other waswell； the most important man at the War Office； who seldom； as you know； speaks to any one。〃
〃You mean to say that he was alone； talking confidentially with Hugh？〃 Geraldine exclaimed incredulously。
〃He was； dear；〃 her mother assented； 〃and it made me think。 That's all。 I have a fancy that some day when the time comes that Hugh is free to talk； he will be able to interest youwell； quite as much as Captain Granet。 。 。 。 Now then； dear； hurry。 There's the car at the door for you and you haven't your hat on。〃
Geraldine went upstairs a little thoughtfully。 As she drew on her gloves； she looked down at the empty space upon her third finger。 For a moment there was almost a lump in her throat。
CHAPTER XVI
The two men who had walked up together arm in arm from Downing Street； stood for several moments in Pall Mall before separating。 The pressman who was passing yearned for the sunlight in his camera。 One of the greatest financiers of the city in close confabulation with Mr。 Gordon Jones； the Chancellor of the Exchequer； was an interesting； almost an historical sight。
〃It is a source of the greatest satisfaction to me； Sir Alfred；〃 the Minister was saying earnestly； 〃to find such royal and whole…hearted support in the city。 I am afraid；〃 he went on； with a little twinkle in his eyes； 〃that there are times when I have scarcely been popular in financial circles。〃
〃We have hated you like poison；〃 the other assured him； with emphasis。
〃The capitalists must always hate the man who tries to make wealth pay its just share in the support of the Empire；〃 Mr。 Gordon Jones remarked。 〃The more one has； the less one likes to part with it。 However； those days have passed。 You bankers have made my task easier at every turn。 You have met me in every possible way。 To you personally； Sir Alfred； I feel that some day I shall have to express my thanksmy thanks and the thanks of the nationin a more tangible form。〃
〃You are very kind；〃 the banker acknowledged。 〃Times like this change everything。 We remember only that we are Englishmen。〃
The Minister hailed a passing taxi and disappeared。 The banker strolled slowly along Pall Mall and passed through the portals of an august…looking club。 The hall…porter relieved him of his coat and hat with great deference。 As he was crossing the hall； after having exchanged greetings with several friends； he came face to face with Surgeon…Major Thomson。 The latter paused。
〃I am afraid you don't remember me； Sir Alfred；〃 he said； 〃but I have been hoping for an opportunity of thanking you personally for the six ambulance cars you have endowed。 I am Surgeon…Major Thomson； chief inspector of Field Hospitals。〃
Sir Alfred held out his hand affably。
〃I remember you perfectly； Major；〃 he declared。 〃I am very glad that my gift is acceptable。 Anything one can do to lessen the suffering of those who are fighting our battle； is almost a charge upon our means。〃
〃It is very fortunate for us that you feel like that；〃 the other replied。 〃Thank you once more； sir。〃
The two men separated。 Sir Alfred turned to the hall…porter。
〃I am expecting my nephew in to dine；〃 he said；〃Captain Granet。 Bring him into the smoking…room； will you； directly he arrives。〃
〃Certainly； sir！〃
Sir Alfred passed on across the marble hall。 Thomson； whose hand had been upon his hat； replaced it upon the peg。 He looked after the great banker and stood for a moment deep in thought。 Then he addressed the hall…porter。
〃By…the…bye； Charles；〃 he inquired； 〃if you ask a non…member to dinner； you have to dine in the strangers' room； I suppose？〃
〃Certainly； sir；〃 the man replied。 〃It is just at the back of the general dining…room。〃
〃I suppose an ordinary member couldn't dine in there alone？〃
〃It is not customary； sir。〃
Surgeon…Major Thomson made his way to the telephone booth。 When he emerged； he interviewed the head…waiter。
〃Keep a small table for me in the strangers' room；〃 he ordered。 〃I shall require dinner for two。〃
〃At what time； sir？〃
Major Thomson seemed for a moment deaf。 He was looking through the open door of the smoking…room to where Sir Alfred was deep in the pages of a review。
〃Are there many people dining there to…night？〃 he asked。
〃Sir Alfred has a guest at eight o'clock； sir；〃 the man replied。 〃There are several others； I think； but they have not ordered tables specially。〃
〃At a quarter past eight； if you please。 I shall be in the billiard…room； Charles；〃 he added； turning to the hall…porter。
Sir Alfred wearied soon of the pages of his review and leaned back in his chair； his hands folded in front of him； gazing through the window at the opposite side of the way。 A good many people； passing backwards and forwards； glanced at him curiously。 For thirty years his had been something like a household name in the city。 He had been responsible； he and the great firm of which he was the head； for international finance conducted on the soundest principles； finance which scorned speculation； finance which rolled before it the great snowball of automatically accumulated wealth。 His father had been given the baronetcy which he now enjoyed； and which； as he knew very well； might at any moment be transferred into a peerage。 He was a short； rather thick…set man； with firm jaws and keen blue eyes； carefully dressed in somewhat old…fashioned style； with horn…rimmed eyeglass hung about his neck with a black ribbon。 His hair was a little close…cropped and stubbly。 No one could have called him handsome； no one could have found him undistinguished。 Even without the knowledge of his millions； people who glanced at him recognised the atmosphere of power。
〃Wonder what old Anselman's thinking about；〃 one man asked another