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Sir Alfred frowned slightly。
〃Nothing very much；〃 he said。 〃At the same time； there are distinct indications of a change which I don't like。 With certain statesmen here at the top of the tree； it was perfectly easy for me to carry out any schemes which I thought necessary。 During the last few weeks； however； there has been a change。 Nominally； things are the same。 Actually； I seem to find another hand at work； another hand which works with the censorship； too。 One of my very trusted agents in Harwich made the slightest slip the other day。 A few weeks ago； he would either have been fined twenty pounds or interned。 Do you know what happened to him on Wednesday？ Of course you don't he was arrested at one o'clock and shot in half an hour。 Then you saw the papers this morning？ All sailings between here and a certain little spot we know of have been stopped without a moment's warning。 I am compelled to pause in several most interesting schemes。〃
〃Nothing for me； I suppose？〃 Granet asked； a little nervously。
Sir Alfred looked at him。
〃Not for the moment；〃 he replied； 〃but there will be very soon。 Take hold of yourself Ronnie。 Don't look downwards so much。 You and I are walking in the clouds。 It is almost as bad to falter as to slip。 Confessyou've been afraid。〃
〃I have；〃 Granet admitted； 〃not afraid of death but afraid of what might follow upon discovery。 I am half inclined； if just one thing in the world came my way； to sail for New York to…morrow and start again。〃
〃When those fears come to you；〃 Sir Alfred continued slowly； 〃consider me。 I run a greater risk than you。 There are threads from this office stretching to many corners of England； to many corners of America； to most cities of Europe。 If a man with brains should seize upon any one of them； he might follow it backwardseven here。〃
Sir Alfred touched his chest for a moment。 Then his hand dropped to his side and he proceeded。
〃For twenty…eight years I have ruled the money…markets of the world。 No Cabinet Council is held in this country at which my influence is not represented。 The Ministers come to me one by one for help and advice。 I represent the third great force of war； and there isn't a single member of the present Government who doesn't look upon me as the most important person in the country。 Yet I； too； have enemies； Ronnie。 There is the halfpenny Press。 They'd give a million for the chance that may come at any day。 They'd print my downfall in blacker lines than the declaration of war。 They'd shriek over my ruin with a more brazen…throated triumph even than they would greet the heralds of peace。 And the threads are there； Ronald。 Sometimes I feel one shiver a little。 Sometimes I have to stretch out my arm and brush too curious an inquirer into the place where curiosity ends。 I sit and watch and I am well served。 There are men this morning at Buckingham Palace with a V。C。 to be pinned upon their breast； who faced dangers for ten minutes； less than I face day and night。〃
Granet rose to his feet。
〃For a moment；〃 he exclaimed； 〃I had forgotten！。 。 。 Tell me；〃 he added； with sudden vigour； 〃what have we don't it for？ You made your great name in England； you were Eton and Oxford。 Why is it that when the giant struggle comes it should be Germany who governs your hear； it should be Germany who calls even to me？〃
Sir Alfred held out his hand。 His eye had caught the clock。
〃Ronnie；〃 he said； 〃have you ever wondered why in a flock of sheep every lamb knows its mother？ Germany was the mother of our stock。 Birth； life and education count for nothing when the great days come； when the mother voice speaks。 It isn't that we are false to England； it is that we are true to our own。 You must go now； Ronnie！ I have an appointment。〃
Granet walked out to the street a little dazed； and called for a taxi。
〃I suppose that must be it；〃 he muttered to himself。
CHAPTER XXV
Geraldine welcomed her unexpected visitor that afternoon cordially enough but a little shyly。
〃I thought that you were going to stay at Brancaster for a week；〃 she remarked； as they shook hands。
〃We meant to stay longer；〃 Granet admitted； 〃but things went a little wrong。 First of all there was this Zeppelin raid。 Then my arm didn't go very well。 Altogether our little excursion fizzled out and I came back last night。〃
〃Did you see anything of the raid？〃 Geraldine inquired eagerly。
〃Rather more than I wanted；〃 he answered grimly。 〃I was motoring along the road at the time； and I had to attend a perfect court martial next day； with your friend Thomson in the chair。 Can you tell me； Miss Conyers；〃 he continued； watching her closely； 〃how it is that a medical major who is inspector of hospitals； should be sent down from the War Office to hold an inquiry upon that raid？〃
〃Was Hugh really there？〃 she asked in a puzzled manner。
〃He was； and very officially；〃 Granet replied。 〃If it weren't that I had conclusive evidence to prove what I was doing there； he seemed rather set on getting me into trouble。〃
〃Hugh is always very fair；〃 she said a little coldly。
〃You can't solve my puzzle for me； then？〃 he persisted。
〃What puzzle？〃
〃Why an inspector of hospitals should hold an inquiry upon a Zeppelin raid？〃
〃I'm afraid I cannot；〃 she admitted。 〃Hugh certainly seems to have become a most mysterious person； but then； as you know； I haven't seen quite so much of him lately。 Your change； Captain Granet； doesn't seem to have done you much good。 Has your wound been troubling you？〃
He rose abruptly and stood before her。
〃Do you care whether my wound is troubling me or not？〃 he asked。 〃Do you care anything at all about me？〃
There was a moment's silence。
〃I care very much；〃 she confessed。
He seemed suddenly a changed person。 The lines which had certainly appeared in his face during the last few days； become more noticeable。 He leaned towards her eagerly。
〃Miss Conyers；〃 he went on； 〃Geraldine； I want you to careenough for the big things。 Don't interrupt me； please。 Listen to what I have to say。 Somehow or other； the world has gone amiss with me lately。 They won't have me back； my place has been filled up； I can't get any fighting。 They've shelved me at the War Office； they talk about a home adjutancy。 I can't stick it； I have lived amongst the big things too long。 I'm sick of waiting about； doing nothingsick to death。 I want to get away。 There's some work I could do in America。 You understand？〃
〃Not in the least；〃 Geraldine told him frankly。
〃It's my fault；〃 he declared。 〃The words all seem to be tumbling out anyhow and I don't know how to put them in the right order。 Can't you see that I love you； Geraldine？ I want you to be my wife； and I want to get right away as quickly as ever I can。 Why not America？ Why couldn't we be married this week and get away from everybody？〃
She looked at him in sheer amazement； amazement tempered just a little with a sort of tremulous uncertainty。
〃But； Captain Granet；〃 she exclaimed； 〃you can't be serious！ You couldn't possibly think of leaving England now。〃
〃Why not？〃 he protested。 〃They won't let me fight again。 I couldn't stand the mi