st the existence of some passer-by.

After a particularly vigorous bout of barking on James's part, Mr.
Naylor looked up suddenly and, fixing Mrs. Naylor with astern eye,
demanded, "Any post?"

"I haven't heard the post-woman yet," faltered Mrs. Naylor
apologetically. She was at heart a pacifist in the domestic sense.

"Go and see," was the gruff retort, as Mr. Naylor thrust into his mouth
a large piece of bread, which he had previously wiped round his plate
to absorb the elemental juices of the morning bacon.

Mrs. Naylor rose meekly and left the room. A few moments later she
returned, carrying in her hand two envelopes. Mr. Naylor looked up
over his spectacles.

"They were on the path," she explained timidly. "James is in the
garden."

The post-woman had tacitly carried on the tradition of her predecessor,
the postman. If James were about, the letters went over the garden
gate; if James were not about, they went into the letter-box.

With a grunt Mr. Naylor snatched the letters from Mrs. Naylor's hand
and looked at them keenly. One bore a halfpenny stamp, and was
consequently of no particular importance. This he laid beside his
plate. The other, however, he subjected to a rigorous and elaborate
examination. He scrutinised the handwriting, examined carefully the
postmark, turned it over and gazed at the fastening. Then taking a
letter-opener from his pocket, he slowly slit the top of the envelope,
and taking out a sheet of notepaper unfolded it.

"Gott----" He bit off the phrase savagely, and looked up fiercely at
Mrs. Naylor, as if she was responsible for his lapse. Instinctively
she shrank back. From the garden James's vigorous barking swelled out
into a fortissimo of protest.

"Stop that dog," he shouted, whereat Mrs. Naylor rose and left the room.

With scowling eyebrows Mr. Naylor read his letter, and ground his teeth
with suppressed fury.

"Der mann muss verrueckt 'sein."

He re-read the letter, then placing it in his pocket looked across the
table, seeming for the first time to notice that Mrs. Naylor had left
the room. Going to the door he opened it and shouted a peremptory
"Here!"

As Mrs. Naylor entered with obvious trepidation, he fixed her with a
stern disapproving eye.

"There's somebody coming this afternoon at four," he said. "I'll see
him in the study," and with that he once more drew the letter from his
pocket and read it for the third time, whilst Mrs. Naylor withdrew.