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any sideboard and was fingering some bottles。
〃Let me mix you a cocktail；〃 he suggested。 〃By Jove！ That fellow Conyers would be the fellow for your American chaplain to get hold of。 If he is spending the afternoon down at the Admiralty； he'll have all the latest tips about how they mean to deal with the submarines。 I hear there are at least three or four new inventions which they are keeping dark。 You like yours dry； I suppose？〃
Thomson had risen to his feet and leaned forward towards the mirror for a moment to straighten his tie。 When he turned around； he glanced at the collection of bottles Granet had been handling。
〃I am really very sorry；〃 he said。 〃I did not mean to put you to this trouble。 I never drink cocktails。〃
Granet paused in shaking the silver receptacle； and laid it down。
〃Have a whisky and soda instead？〃
Thomson shook his head。
〃If you will excuse me；〃 he said； 〃I will drink your health at dinner…time。 I have no doubt that your cocktails are excellent but I never seem to have acquired the habit。 What do you put in them？〃
〃Oh！ just both sorts of vermouth and gin； and a dash of something to give it a flavour；〃 Granet explained carelessly。
Thomson touched a small black bottle； smelt it and put it down。
〃What's that？〃 he asked。
〃A mixture of absinth and some West Indian bitters；〃 Granet replied。 〃A chap who often goes to the States brought it back for me。 Gives a cocktail the real Yankee twang； he says。〃
Thomson nodded slowly。
〃Rather a curious odour；〃 he remarked。 〃We shall meet again； then； Captain Granet。〃
They walked towards the door。 Granet held it open； leaning upon his stick。
〃Many times； I trust；〃 he observed politely。
There was a second's pause。 His right hand was half extended but his departing guest seemed not to notice the fact。 He merely nodded and put on his hat。
〃It is a small world；〃 he said； 〃especially； although it sounds paradoxical； in the big places。〃
He passed out。 Granet listened to the sound of his retreating footsteps with a frown upon his forehead。 Then he came back and stood for a moment upon the rug in front of the fire； deep in thought。 The fox terrier played unnoticed about his feet。 His face seemed suddenly to have become older and more thoughtful。 He glanced at the card which Thomson had left upon the sideboard。
〃Surgeon…Major Thomson；〃 he repeated quietly to himself。 〃I wonder！〃
Thomson walked slowly to the end of Sackville Street； crossed the road and made his way to the Ritz Hotel。 He addressed himself to the head clerk of the reception counter。
〃I am Surgeon…Major Thomson；〃 he announced。
〃I was lunching here to…day and attended one of the waiters who was taken ill afterwards。 I should be very glad to know if I can see him for a few moments。〃
The man bowed politely。
〃I remember you quite well； sir；〃 he said。 〃A Belgian waiter； was it not？ He has been taken away by a lady this afternoon。〃
〃Taken away？〃 Thomson repeated； puzzled。
〃The lady who was giving the luncheonLady Anselmancalled and saw the manager about an hour ago；〃 the man explained。 〃She has interested herself very much in the matter of Belgian refugees and is entertaining a great many of them at a house of hers near the seaside。 The man is really not fit to work； so we were very glad indeed to pass him on to her。〃
〃He recovered consciousness before he was removed； I suppose？〃 Thomson inquired。
〃I believe so； sir。 He seemed very weak and ill； though。 In fact he had to be carried to the automobile。〃
〃I suppose he didn't give any reason for his sudden attack？〃
〃None that I am aware of； sir。〃
Thomson stood for a moment deep in thought； then he turned away from the desk。
〃Thank you very much indeed；〃 he said to the clerk。 〃The man's case rather interested me。 I think I shall ask Lady Anselman to allow me to visit him。 Where did you say the house was？〃
〃Her ladyship did not mention the exact locality；〃 the man replied。 〃I believe； however； that it is near the Isle of Wight。〃
〃A most suitable neighbourhood；〃 Major Thomson murmured； as he turned away from the hotel。
CHAPTER VII
〃I wonder why you don't like Captain Granet？〃 Geraldine asked her fiance； as they stood in the drawing…room waiting for dinner。
〃Not like him？〃 Thomson repeated。 〃Have I really given you that impression； Geraldine？〃
The girl nodded。
〃Perhaps I ought not to say that； though；〃 she confessed。 〃You are never particularly enthusiastic about people； are you？〃
One of his rare smiles transfigured his face。 He leaned a little towards her。
〃Not about many people； Geraldine；〃 he whispered。
She made a charming little grimace but a moment afterwards she was serious again。
〃But really；〃 she continued； 〃to me Captain Granet seems just the type of young Englishman who is going to save the country。 He is a keen soldier； clever； modest； and a wonderful sportsman。 I can't think what there is about him fro any one to dislike。〃
Major Thomson glanced across the room。 In a way； he and the man whom he felt instinctively was in some sense of the word his rival； even though an undeclared one； were of exactly opposite types。 Granet was the centre of a little group of people who all seemed to be hanging upon his conversation。 He was full of high spirits and humour； debonair； with all the obvious claims to popularity。 Thomson； on the other hand； although good…looking； even distinguished in his way； was almost too slim and pale。 His face was more the face of a scholar than of one interested in or anxious to shine in the social side of life。 His manners and his speech were alike reserved； his air of breeding was apparent； but he had not the natural ease or charm which was making Granet； even in those few minutes； persona grata with Geraldine's mother and a little circle of newly…arrived guests。
〃At least I appreciate your point of view；〃 Major Thomson admitted； with a faint sigh。
〃Don't be such a dear old stick；〃 Geraldine laughed。 〃I want you to like him because I find him so interesting。 You see； as he gets to know one a little better he doesn't seem to mind talking about the war。 You others will scarcely say a word of what you have seen or of what is being done out there。 I like to be told things by people who have actually seen them。 He happened to be ten minutes early this evening and he gave me a most fascinating description of some skirmishing near La Bassee。〃
〃You must remember；〃 Thomson told her； 〃that personally I do not； in an ordinary way； see a great deal of fighting until the whole show is over。 It may be a fine enough panorama when an attack is actually taking place； but there is nothing very inspiring in the modern battlefield when the living have passed away from it。〃
Geraldine shivered for a moment。
〃Really； I almost wish that you were a soldier； too；〃 she declared。 〃Your work seems to me so horribly gruesome。 Come along； you know you are going to take me to dinner。 Think of something nice to say。 I really want to be amused。〃
〃I will make a suggestion； then；〃 he remarked as they took their places。 〃I don't know whether you will find it amusing； though。 Why shouldn't