按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to this！ A nation of spies； indeed！ They're mugs； uncle。〃
〃Not altogether that；〃 the banker replied。 〃We have some reports； although they don't go far enough。 I can put you on to the track of the thing。 The apparatus you saw is something in the nature of an inverted telescope； with various extraordinary lenses treated by a new process。 You can see forty feet down under the surface of the water for a distance of a mile； and we believe that attached to the same apparatus is an instrument which brings any moving object within the range of what they call a deep…water gun。〃
〃Did that come from reports？〃 Granet asked eagerly。
〃It did；〃 Sir Alfred said。 〃Further than that； the main part of the instrument is being made under the supervision of Sir Meyville Worth； in a large workshop erected on his estate in a village near Brancaster in Norfolk。〃
〃I take it back；〃 Granet remarked。
〃The plans of the instrument should be worth a hundred thousand pounds；〃 Sir Alfred continued calmly。 〃If that is impossible； the destruction of the little plant would be the next consideration。〃
〃Do I come in here？〃 Granet inquired。
〃You do； Ronnie；〃 his uncle replied。 〃The name of the village where Sir Meyville Worth lives is Market Burnham； which； as I think I told you； is within a few miles of Brancaster。 Geoffrey； at my instigation； has arranged a harmless little golf party to go to Brancaster the day after to…morrow。 You will accompany them。 In the meantime； Miss Worth； Sir Meyville Worth's only daughter； is staying in London until Wednesday。 She is lunching with your aunt at the Ritz to…morrow。 I have made some other arrangements in connection with your visit to Norfolk； which will keep for the present。 I see that some strangers have entered the room。 Tell me exactly how you came by the wound in your foot？〃
Granet turned a little around。 There was a queer change in his face as he looked back at his uncle。
〃Do you know the man at that corner table？〃 he asked。
Sir Alfred glanced across the room。
〃Very slightly。 I spoke to him an hour ago。 He thanked me for some ambulances。 He is the chief inspector of hospitals； I thinkMajor Thomson； his name is。〃
〃Did you happen to say that I was dining with you？〃
Sir Alfred reflected for a moment。
〃I believe that I did mention it；〃 he admitted。 〃Why？〃
Granet struggled for a moment with an idea and rejected it。 He drained his glass and leaned across the table。
〃He's a dull enough person really；〃 he remarked； a little under his breath； 〃but I seem to be always running up against him。 Once or twice he's given me rather a start。〃
Sir Alfred smiled。 He called the wine steward and pointed to his nephew's glass。
〃The best thing in the world；〃 he observed drily； as he watched the wine being poured out； 〃for presentiments。〃
CHAPTER XVII
Lady Anselman stood once more in the foyer of the Ritz Hotel and counted her guests。 It was a smaller party this time； and in its way a less distinguished one。 There were a couple of officers； friends of Granet's； back from the Front on leave； Lady Conyers； with Geraldine and Olive； Granet himself； and a tall； dark girl with pallid complexion and brilliant eyes； who had come with Lady Anselman and who was standing now by her side。
〃I suppose you know everybody； my dear？〃 Lady Anselman asked her genially。
The girl shook her head a little disconsolately。
〃We are so little in London； Lady Anselman；〃 she murmured。 〃You know how difficult father is； and just now he is worse than ever。 In fact； if he weren't so hard at work I don't believe he'd have let me come even now。〃
〃These scientific men；〃 Lady Anselman declared； 〃are great boons to the country； but as parent I am afraid they are just a little thoughtless。 Major Harrison and Colonel Grey； let me present you to my young chargefor the day only； unfortunatelyMiss Worth。 Now； Ronnie； if you can be persuaded to let Miss Conyers have a moment's peace perhaps you will show us the way in to lunch。〃
Granet promptly abandoned his whispered conversation with Geraldine。 The little company moved in and took their places at the round table which was usually reserved for Lady Anselman on Tuesdays。
〃Some people；〃 the latter remarked； as she seated herself； 〃find fault with me for going on with my luncheons this season。 Even Alfred won't come except now and then。 Personally； I have very strong views about it。 I think we all ought to keep on doing just the same as usualto a certain extent； of course。 There is no reason why we should bring the hotel proprietors and shopkeepers to the brink of ruin because we are all feeling more or less miserable。〃
〃Quite right；〃 her neighbour； Colonel Grey； assented。 〃I am sure it wouldn't do us any good out there to feel that you were all sitting in sackcloth and ashes。 Besides； think how pleasant this is to come home to；〃 he added； looking around the little table。 〃Jove！ What a good…looking girl Miss Conyers is！〃
Lady Anselman nodded and lowered her voice a little。
〃She has just broken her engagement to Surgeon…Major Thomson。 I wonder whether you know him？〃
〃Inspector of Field Hospitals or something； isn't he？〃 the other remarked carelessly。 〃I came across him once at Boulogne。 Rather a dull sort of fellow he seemed。
Lady Anselman sighed。
〃I am afraid Geraldine found him so；〃 she agreed。 〃Her mother is very disappointed。 I can't help thinking myself； though； that a girl with her appearance ought to do better。〃
The Colonel reflected for a moment。
〃Seems to me I've heard something about Thomson somewhere；〃 he said； half to himself。 〃By…the…bye； who is the pale girl with the wonderful eyes； to whom your nephew is making himself so agreeable？〃
〃That is Isabel Worth；〃 Lady Anselman replied。 〃She is the daughter of Sir Meyville Worth； the great scientist。 I am afraid she has rather a dull time； poor girl。 Her father lives in an out…of…the…way village of Norfolk； spends all his time trying to discover things； and forgets that he has a daughter at all。 She has been in London for a few days with an aunt； but I don't believe that the old lady is able to do much for her。〃
〃Ronnie seems to be making the running all right；〃 her neighbour observed。
〃I asked him specially to look after her；〃 Lady Anselman confided； 〃and Ronnie is always such a dear at doing what he is told。〃
Major Harrison leaned across the table towards them。
〃Didn't I hear you mention Thomson's name just now？〃 he inquired。 〃I saw him the other day in Boulogne。 Awful swell he was about something； too。 A destroyer brought him across； and a Government motor…car was waiting at the quay to rush him up to the Front。 We all thought at Boulogne that royalty was coming； at least。〃
There was a slight frown on Granet's forehead。 He glanced half unconsciously towards Geraldine。
〃Mysterious sort of fellow； Thomson；〃 Major Harrison continued； in blissful ignorance of the peculiar significance of his words。 〃You see him in Paris one day； you hear of him at the furthermost point of the French lines immediately afterwards； he reports at headquarters within a few hours； and you meet him slipping out of a back door o