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elf； to a certain extent； upon your understanding and your common sense；〃 he added； speaking with the pleased air of a man sure of his ground and himself。
〃You have come to protest； I suppose；〃 Thomson said slowly； 〃against our having〃
〃To protest against nothing； my dear sir；〃 the other interrupted。 〃Simply to explain to you； as I have just explained to your Chief； that while we possess every sympathy with； and desire to give every latitude in the world to the military point of view； there are just one or two very small matters in which we must claim to have a voice。 We have； as you know； a free censorship list。 We have put no one upon it who is not far and away above all suspicion。 I am given to understand that a letter addressed to Sir Alfred Anselman was opened yesterday。 I went to see your Chief about it this morning。 He has referred me to you。〃
〃The letter；〃 Thomson remarked； 〃was opened by my orders。〃
〃I happened；〃 Mr。 Gordon Jones went on； 〃to be dining at Sir Alfred's house when the letter was presented。 Sir Alfred； I must say； took it exceedingly well。 At the same time； I have made it my business to see that this does not occur again。〃
Thomson made no sign。 His eyebrows； however； rose a little higher。
〃The country；〃 his visitor continued； 〃will know some day what it owes to Sir Alfred Anselman。 At present I can only express； and that poorly； my sense of personal obligation to him。 He has been of the greatest assistance to the Government in the city and elsewhere。 His contributions to our funds have been magnificent； his advice； his sympathy； invaluable。 He is a man inspired by the highest patriotic sentiments； one of the first and most noteworthy of British citizens。〃
Thomson listened in silence and without interruption。 He met the well…satisfied peroration of his visitor without comment。
〃I am hoping to hear；〃 the latter concluded； with some slight asperity in his manner； 〃that the circumstance to which I have alluded was accidental and will not be repeated。〃
Major Thomson glanced thoughtfully at a little pile of documents by his side。 Then he looked coldly towards his visitor and provided him； perhaps； with one of the most complete surprises of his life。
〃I am sorry； Mr。 Gordon Jones；〃 he said； 〃but this is not a matter which I can discuss with you。〃
The Cabinet Minister's face was a study。
〃Not discuss it？〃 he repeated blankly。
Major Thomson shook his head。
〃Certain responsibilities；〃 he continued quietly； 〃with regard to the safe conduct of this country； have been handed over to the military authorities； which in this particular case I represent。 We are in no position for amenities or courtesies。 Our country is in the gravest danger and nothing else is of the slightest possible significance。 The charge which we have accepted we shall carry out with regard to one thing only； and that is our idea of what is due to the public safety。〃
〃You mean； in plain words；〃 Mr。 Gordon Jones exclaimed； 〃that no requests from me or say； for instance； the Prime Minister； would have any weight with you？〃
〃None whatever；〃 Major Thomson replied coolly。 〃Without wishing to be in any way personal； I might say that there are statesmen in your Government； for whom you must accept a certain amount of responsibility； who have been largely instrumental in bringing this hideous danger upon the country。 As a company of law…makers you may or may not be excellent peoplethat is； I suppose； according to one's political opinions。 As a company of men competent to superintend the direction of a country at war； you must permit me to say that I consider you have done well in placing certain matters in our hands； and that you will do better still not to interfere。〃
Mr。 Gordon Jones sat quite still for several moments。
〃Major Thomson；〃 he said at last； 〃I have never heard of your before； and I am not prepared for a moment to say that I sympathise with your point of view。 But it is at least refreshing to hear any one speak his mind with such frankness。 I must now ask you one question； whether you choose to answer it or not。 The letter which you have opened； addressed to Sir Alfredyou couldn't possibly find any fault with it？〃
〃It was apparently a quite harmless production；〃 Major Thomson confessed。
〃Do you propose to open any more？〃
Thomson shook his head。
〃That is within our discretion； sir。〃
Mr。 Gordon Jones struggled with his obvious annoyance。
〃Look here；〃 he said； with an attempt at good…humour； 〃you can at least abandon the official attitude for a moment with me。 Tell me why； of all men in the world； you have chosen to suspect Sir Alfred Anselman？〃
〃I am sorry；〃 Thomson replied stiffly； 〃but this is not a matter which I can discuss in any other way except officially； and I do not recognise you as having any special claims for information。〃
The Minister rose to his feet。 Those few minutes marked to him an era in his official life。
〃You are adopting an attitude； sir；〃 he said； 〃which； however much I may admire it from one point of view； seems to me scarcely to take into account the facts of the situation。〃
Thomson made no reply。 He had risen to his feet。 His manner clearly indicated that he considered the interview at an end。 Mr。 Gordon Jones choked down his displeasure。
〃When you are wanting a civil job； Major Thomson；〃 he concluded； 〃come and give us a call。 Good morning！〃
CHAPTER XXIX
〃A lady to see you； sir；〃 Jarvis announced discreetly。
Granet turned quickly around in his chair。 Almost instinctively he pulled down the roll top of the desk before which he was seated。 Then he rose to his feet and held out his hand。 He managed with an effort to conceal the consternation which had succeeded his first impulse of surprise。
〃Miss Worth！〃 he exclaimed。
She came towards him confidently； her hands outstretched； slim； dressed in sober black； he cheeks as pale as ever； her eyes a little more brilliant。 She threw her muff into a chair and a moment afterwards sank into it herself。
〃You have been expecting me？〃 she asked eagerly。
Granet was a little taken aback。
〃I have been hoping to hear from you；〃 he said。 〃You told me； if you remember； not to write。〃
〃It was better not；〃 she assented。 〃Even after you left I had a great deal of trouble。 That odious man； Major Thomson； put me through a regular cross…examination again； and I had to tell him at last〃
〃What？〃 Granet exclaimed anxiously。
〃That we were engaged to be married；〃 she confessed。 〃There was really no other way out of it。〃
〃That we were engaged；〃 Granet repeated blankly。
She nodded。
〃He pressed me very hard；〃 she went on； 〃and I am afraid I made some admissionswell； there were necessarywhich； to say the least of it； were compromising。 There was only one way out of it decently for me； and I took it。 You don't mind？〃
〃Of course not；〃 he replied。
〃There was father to be considered；〃 she went on。 〃He was furious at first〃
〃You told your father？〃 he interrupted。
〃I had to；〃 she explained； smoothing her muff。 〃He was there all the time that Thomson man was cross…examining me。〃
〃Then your father believes in our engagement； too？