er among the Turks; and when
at length, after the taking of Baghdad I was released, I was too ill to
do anything, Besides, I thought Jack Carbis would have set your minds
at rest. But there, I shall have a great yarn to tell you later.'

To Norah Blackwater he was coldly polite. That she had become his
brother's fiancee within a few months of his reported death evidently
wounded him deeply, although he made not the slightest reference to it.
For my own part I was almost sorry for the girl. I do not believe she
had ever cared for George St. Mabyn, although there could be no doubt
of his fondness for her. Even when she had accepted him, her heart
belonged to Maurice, but being desperately poor, and believing George
to be the true heir to the St. Mabyn estates, she had given her
promise. But this is only conjecture on my part. Nevertheless, it was
impossible not to pity her. Her eyes, as she looked at Maurice, told
their own story; she knew that she loved him; knew, too, that she had
lost him for ever.

I was not present during the long conversation Maurice St. Mabyn and
Jack Carbis had together that night, but before I went to sleep the
latter came into my room.

'This has been a great night, Luscombe,' he said.

'Great night!' I repeated. 'I can hardly believe that I have not been
dreaming all the time.'

'But you haven't,' he replied with a laugh. 'All the same, I almost
believed I was losing my head when Maurice St. Mabyn came into the
room. Isn't he a splendid chap though? No noise, no bluster, no
accusations. But he understood.'

'Understood what?'

'Everything.'

'And you believe that Maurice knows of George's complicity in
Springfield's plans?'

'Of course he knows. But he'll not let on to George. He realizes that
Springfield played on his brother's weakness and made his life one long
haunting fear.'

'But what about Norah Blackwater?'

'Ah, there we have the tragedy!'

'Why, do you think Maurice cares for her still?'

'I'm sure she cares for him. But he's adamant. He'll never forgive
her, never. I wonder--I wonder----'

'What?'

He started to his feet and left the room.

I hadn't a chance of speaking with him the next day, for he left by an
early train with his father and mother. They had naturally insisted on
his returning to his home with them, and although they asked me to
accompany them, I was unable to do so, as I had to report myself to my
C.O. on the following day.