mall. Durrance had walked with the general upon his terrace only two
years ago, and blind though he was, he noticed a change within this
interval of time. Old Feversham walked with a heavier step, and there
had come a note of puerility into his voice.

"You have joined the veterans before your time, Durrance," he said. "I
read of it in a newspaper. I would have written had I known where to
write."

If he had any suspicion of Durrance's visit, he gave no sign of it. He
rang the bell, and tea was brought into the great hall where the
portraits hung. He asked after this and that officer in the Soudan with
whom he was acquainted, he discussed the iniquities of the War Office,
and feared that the country was going to the deuce.

"Everything through ill-luck or bad management is going to the devil,
sir," he exclaimed irritably. "Even you, Durrance, you are not the same
man who walked with me on my terrace two years ago."

The general had never been remarkable for tact, and the solitary life he
led had certainly brought no improvement. Durrance could have countered
with a _tu quoque_, but he refrained.

"But I come upon the same business," he said.

Feversham sat up stiffly in his chair.

"And I give you the same answer. I have nothing to say about Harry
Feversham. I will not discuss him."

He spoke in his usual hard and emotionless voice. He might have been
speaking of a stranger. Even the name was uttered without the slightest
hint of sorrow. Durrance began to wonder whether the fountains of
affection had not been altogether dried up in General Feversham's heart.

"It would not please you, then, to know where Harry Feversham has been,
and how he has lived during the last five years?"

There was a pause--not a long pause, but still a pause--before General
Feversham answered:--

"Not in the least, Colonel Durrance."

The answer was uncompromising, but Durrance relied upon the pause which
preceded it.

"Nor on what business he has been engaged?" he continued.

"I am not interested in the smallest degree. I do not wish him to
starve, and my solicitor tells me that he draws his allowance. I am
content with that knowledge, Colonel Durrance."

"I will risk your anger, General," said Durrance. "There are times when
it is wise to disobey one's superior officer. This is one of the times.
Of course you can turn me out of the house. Otherwise I shall relate to
you the history of your son and my friend since he disappea