ent her
making such a fool of herself?"

"Nothing. I tried. I tried hard, but--"

Erskine looked at her with his keen, level glance.

"And she borrowed from you to supply his needs? No, never mind, I won't
ask any more questions, but I know! I know!" His eyes hardened again
as he turned towards the other man. "Carew, this is pure swindling! We
shall have to worry this out!"

"I believe you, my boy!" said the Major tersely. He turned to Claire
and added more gently, "Tell us some more about this fellow, Miss
Gifford! Describe him! Would you recognise him if you met again?"

"Oh, yes. At once. He is tall and dark, good-looking, I suppose,
though I detest his type. Very dark eyes. Large features."

The Major ruminated, finding apparently no clue in the description.

"Tall. Dark. Large features! I know about a hundred men to whom that
description might apply. Could you think of anything more definite?"

Claire ruminated in her turn; recalled the image of Cecil's lover, and
tried to remember the details of his appearance.

"He has very thick hair, and brushes it straight across his forehead.
His eyebrows are very short. He has a high colour, quite red cheeks."

Major Carew made a short, choking sound; lay back in his chair, and
stared aghast. This time it was evident that the description awoke a
definite remembrance, but he appeared to thrust it from him, to find it
difficult to give credence to the idea.

"Impossible!" he murmured to himself. "Impossible! High colour, you
say; short eyebrows. When you say `short,' what exactly do you mean?"

"They begin by being very thick, then they stop abruptly. They don't
follow the line of the eye, like most eyebrows. They look--unfinished!"

Major Carew bounced upon his chair.

"Erskine, I have an idea.--It seems almost incredible, but I'm bound to
find if it is correct! There is a man who is in our camp now. I'll
make an excuse, and send him over to-night, if you can arrange that Miss
Gifford sees him when he comes. I'll give him a message for you."

"_Send_!" repeated Erskine sharply; then he glanced at Claire, and sent
a frowning message towards the other man. "That can easily be arranged.
We'll leave it till evening, then. We can't get any further now, and I
must get back to my duties. The mater is scowling at me. Go and soothe
her like a good fellow, but for your life--not a word of this to her!"

Major Carew rose obediently, perfe