ent, and when she went away
with him Challoner saw Mrs. Chudleigh approaching. Obeying her sign he
followed her to a seat in the recess in the hall.

"Mr. Greythorpe came down yesterday," she said. "I suppose you have
already had a talk with him."

"Last night. As you anticipated, he asked my opinion about the African
matter. Several names have been submitted; trustworthy men."

"Come to the point," she told him sharply. "What did you do about
Captain Sedgwick?"

Challoner gravely met her insistent gaze. "I felt compelled to suggest
that he was not the best man for the post."

Mrs. Chudleigh's eyes sparkled and the blood swept into her face. Her
pose grew tense and she looked dangerous, but with an obvious effort
she controlled her anger.

"Then if I were a revengeful person, I would warn you that you must
take the consequences."

"I suppose that follows, but I would prefer to think you are fair
enough to make allowances for a man who tried to do the right thing in
a difficult situation."

She was silent for a moment, watching him with a curious, half-ashamed
feeling. Then she made an abrupt movement.

"It's hard to do so. A word or two, which you would not speak, would
have led to the appointment of the most talented man. I'm not a saint;
you mustn't expect a higher standard from me than I'm capable of."

She dismissed him with an angry gesture and got up as Mrs. Foster came
in with Greythorpe. When the latter left his hostess she beckoned him
and led him to a seat near the hearth.

"How far does Colonel Challoner's opinion go with you?" she asked
boldly.

"That depends," he answered, smiling. "On some matters it goes a long
way."

"On the choosing of a West African officer, for instance?"

"Ah!" said Greythorpe, "now I begin to understand. If I am not
indiscreet in mentioning it, I thought my old friend was rather in
disgrace with you."

"You are keen," she told him. "I must warn you that Challoner is
prejudiced."

"If that is so, there is probably a reason for it."

"There is," she said coolly. "I'm afraid it is my fault. I made a
mistake in trying to force the Colonel to speak in favour of one of the
candidates."

"It was unwise," Greythorpe agreed. "Our friend is by no means
amenable to treatment of the kind."

"Still you would not let a good officer suffer because of my
tactlessness?"

"Certainly not; the only thing that could count against any of the men
we are consid