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。 The dog opened one eye and looked up at it。 A few minutes later； the peace of the place was broken in a different fashion。 There was the sound of a key being hastily fitted into the lock of the outside door。 The dog rose to his feet expectantly。 The door which led into the apartment was thrown open and hastily slammed to。 A man； breathing heavily； stood for a moment upon the threshold； his head stooped a little as though listening。 Then； without a glance； even； at the dog who jumped to greet him； he crossed the room with swift； stealthy footsteps。 Before he could reach the other side； however； the door which faced him was opened。 A man…servant looked inquiringly out。
〃My bath and clothes； Jarvis； like hell！〃
The man gilded away； his master following close behind。 From somewhere further inside the flat； the sound of water running into a bath was heard。 The door was closed； again there was silence。 The fox terrier； after a few moments' scratching at the door； resumed his place upon the rug and curled himself up to renewed slumber。
The next interruption was of a different nature。 The sharp； insistent summons of an electric bell from outside rang through the room。 In a moment or two the man…servant appeared from the inner apartment； crossed the floor and presently reappeared； ushering in a visitor。
〃Captain Granet is changing for dinner at present； sir；〃 he explained。 〃If you will take a seat； however； he will be out presently。 What name shall I say？〃
〃Surgeon…Major Thomson。〃
The servant wheeled an easy…chair up towards the fire and placed by its side a small table on which were some illustrated papers。 Then； with a little bow； he disappeared through the inner door。 Major Thomson； who had been fingering the Sketch； laid it down the moment the door was closed。 He leaned forward； his face a little strained。 He had the air of listening intently。 After a brief absence the man returned。
〃Captain Granet will be with you in a few moments； sir；〃 he announced。
〃Please ask him not to hurry；〃 Major Thomson begged。
〃Certainly； sir。〃
The man withdrew and once more Thomson and the dog were alone。 The latter； having made a few overtures of friendship which passed unnoticed； resumed his slumbers。 Major Thomson sat upright in his easy…chair； an illustrated paper in his hand。 All the time； however； his eyes seemed to be searching the room。 His sense of listening was obviously quickened； he had the air； even； of thinking rapidly。 Fiveten minutes passed。 Then voices were heard from within and the door was suddenly opened。 Captain Granet emerged and crossed the room； hobbling slightly towards his visitor。
〃Awfully sorry to keep you like this；〃 he remarked pleasantly。 〃The fact is I'd just got into my bath。〃
〃I ought to apologise；〃 his visitor replied； 〃for calling at such a time。〃
〃Glad to see you； anyway；〃 the other declared； pausing at his smoking…cabinet and bringing out some cigarettes。 〃Try one of these； won't you？〃
〃Not just now； thanks。〃
There was a moment's pause。 Major Thomson seemed in no hurry to explain himself。
〃Jolly luncheon party； wasn't it？〃 Granet remarked； lighting a cigarette for himself with some difficulty。 〃What an idiot it makes a fellow feel to be strapped up like this！〃
〃From what one reads of the fighting around Ypres；〃 the other replied； 〃you were lucky to get out of it so well。 Let me explain； if I may； why I have paid you this rather untimely call。〃
Captain Granet nodded amiably。 He had made himself comfortable in an easy…chair and was playing with the dog； who had jumped on to his knee。
〃I had some conversation on Thursday last；〃 Major Thomson began； 〃with the Provost…Marshal of Boulogne。 As you； of course； know； we have suffered a great deal； especially around Ypres； from the marvellous success of the German Intelligence Department。 The Provost…Marshal； who is a friend of mine； told me that there was a special warning out against a person purporting to be an American chaplain who had escaped from Belgium。 You don't happen to have heard of him； I suppose； do you？〃
Captain Granet looked doubtful。
〃Can't remember that I have；〃 he replied。 〃They've been awfully clever； those fellows； though。 The last few nights before our little scrap they knew exactly what time our relief parties came along。 Several times we changed the hour。 No use！ They were on to us just the same。
Major Thompson nodded。
〃Well；〃 he continued； 〃I happened to catch sight of a man who exactly resembled the photograph which my friend the Provost…Marshal showed me； only a few minutes ago； and although I could not be sure of it； I fancied that he entered this building。 It occurred to me that he might be paying a call upon you。〃
〃Upon me？〃 he repeated。
〃He is an exceedingly plausible fellow；〃 Thomson explained； 〃and as you are just back from the Front； and brought dispatches； he might very possibly regard you as a likely victim。〃
〃Can't make bricks without straw；〃 Granet laughed； 〃and I know no more about the campaign than my two eyes have seen。 I was saying only yesterday that； unless you have a staff billet； it's wonderful how little the ordinary soldier picks up as to what is going on。 As a matter of fact； though；〃 he went on； twisting the fox terrier's ear a little； 〃no one has called here at all except yourself； during the last hour or two。 There aren't many of my pals know I'm back yet。〃
〃Are there many other people living in the building？〃 Major Thomson asked。
〃The ground…floor here；〃 the other replied； 〃belongs to a prosperous cigarette manufacturer who lives himself upon the first floor。 This is the second and above us are nothing but the servants' quarters。 I should think；〃 he concluded thoughtfully； 〃that you must have been mistaken about the fellow turning in here at all。〃
Thomson nodded。
〃Very likely；〃 he admitted。 〃It was just a chance； any way。〃
〃By…the…bye；〃 Granet inquired curiously； looking up from the dog； 〃how did you know that I roomed here？〃
〃I happened to see you come in； or was it go out； the other dayI can't remember which；〃 Major Thomson replied。
The telephone upon the table tinkled out a summons。 Granet crossed the room and held the receiver to his ear。
〃This is Captain Granet speaking；〃 he said。 〃Who are you； please？〃
The reply seemed to surprise him。 He glanced across at his visitor。
〃I shall be delighted；〃 he answered into the instrument。 〃It is really very kind of you。 。 。 。About a quarter past eight？ 。 。 。 Certainly！ You'll excuse my not being able to get into mufti； won't you？ 。 。 。 Ever so many thanks。 。 。 。 Good…bye！〃
He laid down the receiver and turned to Thomson。
〃Rather a coincidence；〃 he observed。 〃Seems I am going to see you to…night at dinner。 That was Miss Geraldine Conyers who just rang upasked me if I'd like to meet her brother again before he goes off。 He is spending the afternoon at the Admiralty and she thought I might be interested。〃
Major Thomson's face was expressionless and his murmured word non…committal。 Granet had approached the dark mahogany sideboard and was fingering some bottles。
〃Let me mix you a cocktail；〃 he suggested。 〃By Jov