----"

"He might have taken it for granted that I should do that without
_his_ interference."

Desmond's temper was flaring up again; and his words brought the
anxious look back to Paul's eyes. Theo was sailing very near the wind.

"We all know you too well to believe that you would--tolerate such a
state of things--_if_ you were aware of them," he answered slowly,
choosing his words with care. "Please understand, Theo, that it is
Kresney who is criticised; and that Olliver put the whole thing before
me as nicely as possible. I feel I have been clumsy enough myself. But
it goes against the grain to say anything at all, you understand?"

Desmond's sole answer was a decisive nod of the head. Then silence
fell--a strained silence, difficult to break. Yet it was he himself
who broke it.

"I can do no less than thank you," he said stiffly. "It was a hateful
thing to have thrust upon you; but Frank's intrusion would have been
unendurable. The truth is--" he paused, for the words were hard to
bring out--"I have known--all along that my wife was more friendly
with--these Kresneys than I quite cared about. One could make no valid
objections without seeming uncharitable, and she is still too new here
to understand our point of view. But I must see to it now that she
_shall_ understand, once and for all. It is intolerable to have one's
brother officers--making remarks, even with the best intentions. Will
you ask Honor to tell my wife, when she comes in, that I want to see
her?"

Silence again; and Paul rose to his feet. It hurt him to leave his
friend without a word. But the attitude Desmond had adopted precluded
the lightest touch of sympathy, and Wyndham could not choose but
admire him the more.

"By the way"--Desmond turned upon him as he went with startling
abruptness--"_Honor_ isn't in any way mixed up with all this, is she?"

Something in his look and tone made Wyndham glance at him intently
before replying. "Of course she saw how things were while you were
away. But she has been out very little lately; and as far as I can
judge, she knows nothing about the talk that is going on now."

"Thank Heaven!" Desmond muttered into his moustache; but Paul's ear
failed to catch the words.

"Won't you have a 'peg' or a cup of tea, Theo?" he asked gently.

"No, thanks."

"I think you ought to have one or the other."

"Very well, whichever you please. Only, bring it yourself, there's a
good chap."

Paul's eyes rested t