clock, then."

CHAPTER IX

"Captain Griffiths to see your ladyship."

Philippa's fingers rested for a moment upon the keyboard of the piano
before which she was seated, awaiting Lessingham's arrival. Then she
glanced at the clock. It was ten minutes to eight.

"You can show him in, Mills, if he wishes to see me."

Captain Griffiths was ushered into the room--awkward, unwieldly, nervous
as usual. He entered as though in a hurry, and there was nothing in his
manner to denote that he had spent the last few hours making up his mind
to this visit.

"I must apologise for this most untimely call, Lady Cranston," he said,
watching the closing of the door. "I will not take up more than five
minutes of your time."

"We are very pleased to see you at any time, Captain Griffiths,"
Philippa said hospitably. "Do sit down, please."

Captain Griffiths bowed but remained standing.

"It is very near your dinner-time, I know, Lady Cranston," he continued
apologetically. "The fact of it is, however, that as Commandant here
it is my duty to examine the bona fides of any strangers in the place.
There is a gentleman named Lessingham staying at the hotel, who I
understand gave your name as reference."

Philippa's eyes looked larger than ever, and her face more innocent, as
she gazed up at her visitor.

"Why, of course, Captain Griffiths," she said. "Mr. Lessingham was at
college with my brother, and one of his best friends. He has shot down
at my father's place in Cheshire."

"You are speaking of your brother, Major Felstead?"

"My only brother."

"I am very much obliged to you, Lady Cranston," Captain Griffiths
declared. "I can see that we need not worry any more about Mr.
Lessingham."

Philippa laughed.

"It seems rather old-fashioned to think of you having to worry about
any one down here," she observed. "It really is a very harmless
neighbourhood, isn't it?"

"There isn't much going on, certainly," the Commandant admitted. "Very
dull the place seems at times."

"Now be perfectly frank," Philippa begged him. "Is there a single fact
of importance which could be learnt in this place, worth communicating
to the enemy? Is the danger of espionage here worth a moment's
consideration?"

"That," Captain Griffiths replied in somewhat stilted fashion, "is not a
question which I should be prepared to answer off-hand."

Philippa shrugged her shoulders and appealed almost feverishly to Helen,
who had just entered the ro