h other. Read
it quickly and get the thing over."

So he rose and fetched the yellow envelope which reposed upon Isobel's
boots outside the door. A glance showed him that it was marked
"official," and then his heart, too, began to sink. Returning to the
bed, he switched on the electric light and opened the envelope.

"There's enough of it," he said, drawing out three closely written
sheets.

"Read, read it!" answered Isobel.

So he read. It was indeed a very long telegram, one of such as are
commonly sent at the expense of the country, and it came from the War
Office. The gist of it was that attempts had been made to communicate
with him at an address he had given in Cornwall, but the messages had
been returned, and finally inquiry at Hawk's Hall had given a clue. He
was directed to report himself "early to-morrow" (the telegram had been
sent off on the previous night) to take up an appointment which would
be explained to him. There was, it added, no time to lose, as the ship
was due to sail within twenty-four hours.

"There!" said Isobel, "I knew it was something of the sort. This," she
added with a flash of inspiration, "is the result of the meddling of
that old General Cubitte. You see it must be a distant appointment, or
they would not talk about the ship being due to sail."

"I dare say," he answered as cheerfully as he could. "Such things are
to be expected in these times, are they not?"

"Too bad!" she went on, "at any rate they might have let you have your
leave."

Then they rose because they must and made pretence to eat some
breakfast, after which they departed in one of Isobel's motors, which
had been summoned by telephone from her London house, to the Department
indicated in the telegram.

They need not have hurried, since the important person whom Godfrey
must see did not arrive for a full hour, during all which time Isobel
sat waiting in the motor. However, when he appeared he was very
gracious.

"Oh! yes," he said, "you are Major Knight, and we have a mutual friend
in old General Cubitte. In fact it was he who put an idea into our
heads, for which, as I understand you are just married--a pretty hunt
you gave us, by the way--perhaps you won't altogether bless him, since
otherwise, as you are only just recovered from your wounds, I have no
doubt we could have given you a month or two extra leave. However, I
know you are very keen, for I've looked up your record, and private
affairs must give w