y. 'Come this way.' And I
hurried to the passage which leads towards the departure platform.

'Why didn't you want him to see us?' he asked.

I did not reply till we reached the restaurant, and then I spoke to him
gravely.

'Edgecumbe,' I said, 'you were telling me just now that you intended to
study the life of London, and that you meant to go to all sorts of
places.'

'Yes,' he replied, 'what then?'

'Only this: take care of yourself, and don't let any one know what your
plans are.'

'You must have a reason for saying that.'

'I have. You have told me more than once about your feeling that you and
Springfield knew each other before you lost your memory.'

'Yes,' he replied, 'what then?'

'You say you had the feeling that Springfield was your enemy?'

'Yes, but I have no proof. Sometimes I am ashamed of harbouring such
thoughts.'

'Self-preservation is the first law of life,' I said sententiously.
'Think, Edgecumbe,--some one shot at you in France,--why? You say you
don't know that you have a single enemy in the world. Then think of your
recent illness.'

'But--but----' and I saw a look of wonder in his eyes.

'I only tell you to be careful,' I interposed. 'Don't let any one know
your plans, and whatever you do, don't have anything to do with
Springfield.'

The words had scarcely passed my lips, when Springfield entered the room.

CHAPTER XXVI

'WHERE DOES GOD COME IN?'

Springfield glanced around as if looking for a table, and then seeing us,
came up quickly and held out his hand.

'Awfully glad to see you,' he said heartily. 'I came to meet Buller, who
I thought might be in your train. But as he wasn't there, and as I saw
you two fellows come across here, I thought I'd follow you. Left them
all well down in Devonshire?'

There was no suggestion of restraint or _arriere pensee_ in his tones; he
spoke in the most natural way possible, and seemed to regard us as
friends.

'I will join you, if I may,' he went on; 'I hate feeding alone. By the
way, what are you fellows doing to-day? If you have nothing on hand, you
might come on to my club.'

'I am afraid I can't,' I replied; 'I am fixed up. As for Edgecumbe, he
has to get back to duty.'

'I am at a loose end,' he went on. 'Of course there are hosts of men I
know in London; all the same, it's a bit lonely here. I am staying at
the----' and he mentioned a well-known military club. Then he looked at
us, I thought, suspici