, a few weeks I expect. You see--I've had a rough time rather--and
am a bit knocked about. But I shall pull through.'

His manner was strange; and while he spoke quietly, I felt rather than
thought that something out of the ordinary had happened.

He dragged a rough seat up to the side of the tent, and looked across
the field where a number of men were encamped.

'Have you heard from _her_?' he asked suddenly. 'Do you know how she
is?'

'No. Directly after we saw her last she returned to her hospital work.
I wrote to her once; but she has not replied.'

'Have you heard anything?'

'I know Springfield has been home, and that he's been to see her. I
heard from Buller that they were engaged.'

'You mean that it's settled? Has it been publicly announced?' His
voice was tense.

'I don't think so. At any rate, I've not seen it in the papers.'

Again he was silent for a few seconds, and noting the far-away look in
his eyes, I waited in silence.

'Springfield is still afraid of me,' he said presently.

'Why? Have you seen him?'

'Yes. He and St. Mabyn are still as thick as peas in a pod. They were
both at Vimy Ridge, and afterwards at Ypres and Messines.

'Did you speak to them?'

'Rather,' and he laughed curiously. 'I had to.'

'How? What do you mean?'

'You asked me just now why I had not written you for some time. I had
my reasons for silence. I was under a cloud for a time, and I wanted
things cleared up before telling you anything.'

'Don't speak in riddles, Edgecumbe. What has been the trouble? Tell
me quickly.'

'Oh, it's all over now, so I can speak fairly plainly, but for some
days it was touch and go with me. Of course they kept in the
background, but I was able to trace their handiwork.'

'What handiwork? Come, old man, don't keep me in suspense.'

'Oh, it was the old game. You remember how it was when you were in
France, and some fellows shot at me. You remember, too, how I nearly
died of poisoning at Bolivick, and that but for you I should have been
done for. You said you traced Springfield's hands in everything. He's
been trying on the same thing again,--only in another way.'

'What other way?'

He laughed quietly. 'I fancy he thought that when you weren't by I
should be easy game, that I should be too simple to see through his
plans. But I happened to keep my eyes skinned, as the Americans say.
It was this way: by some means or another, some important informati