ry and his cousin is
impossible."

"Yet you were willing to believe your nephew guilty. Had you any cause
to doubt his courage?"

"No," said Challoner. "I used to think he loved a risk."

He felt beaten by her remorseless reasoning; there was scarcely a point
he could contest and his heart grew very heavy. A conviction that
humbled him to the dust was being forced on him.

"There is only one conclusion," Mrs. Chudleigh resumed. "The order to
retreat was given by the weaker man, Bertram Challoner."

He turned to her with a gesture that begged her to desist. "My dear
lady, this is very painful. I must try to think it out calmly, and I
am not able now."

For a time there was strained silence, and Mrs. Chudleigh waited until
he roused himself.

"I must know if what you have told me has any bearing on your request
that I should recommend Captain Sedgwick's appointment?"

She paused before she answered, for he was very stern and peremptory.

"Not a direct one. I have kept the secret out of consideration for you
and your son, but since I have done so, I ventured to believe you would
not refuse me a favour that would only cost you a few words to your
friend."

"I'm relieved to hear it," Challoner grimly replied. "You wish to
appeal to my gratitude and not my fears? Has it struck you that, if
you are correct in your conclusions, by keeping silent you were
wronging an innocent man?"

"Think!" she said impressively. "In a sense, Blake stands by himself,
a man of no importance; your son is heir to a fine estate and is
expected to carry on the traditions of the family. He has a young wife
who adores him, and many friends. Is a career such as lies before him
to be destroyed by one weak action which he has since well atoned for?
I believe your nephew saw that his cousin's disgrace would be a
disaster and felt that at any cost the situation must be saved."

Challoner regarded her with a stern smile. "One would imagine that you
are trying to heighten the value of your silence."

"You misjudge me, but since you take this line, I have some claim on
your gratitude. Can you deny it?"

"I had better answer frankly. If my opinion is desired, I will try to
consider Captain Sedgwick's appointment on its merits. You must not
count on more than this."

Mrs. Chudleigh rose and they turned back to the road in silence. It
looked as if she had failed, but she would not give up the game yet.
When Challoner had time