tin' at the factor. I've
seen a few things in my day, but I'm blessed if I ever met a bird like
you!"

CHAPTER XI

GRAVITY OUT OF BED

It is probable that Sir Archibald Roylance did not altogether believe
Dickson's tale; it may be that he considered him an agreeable romancer,
or a little mad, or no more than a relief to the tedium of a wet Sunday
morning. But his incredulity did not survive one glance at Saskia as
she stood in that bleak drawing-room among Victorian water-colours and
faded chintzes. The young man's boyishness deserted him. He stopped
short in his tracks, and made a profound and awkward bow. "I am at
your service, Mademoiselle," he said, amazed at himself. The words
seemed to have come out of a confused memory of plays and novels.

She inclined her head--a little on one side, and looked towards Dickson.

"Sir Archibald's going to do his best for us," said that squire of
dames. "I was telling him that we had had our breakfast."

"Let's get out of this sepulchre," said their host, who was recovering
himself. "There's a roasting fire in my den. Of course you'll have
something to eat--hot coffee, anyhow--I've trained my cook to make
coffee like a Frenchwoman. The housekeeper will take charge of you, if
you want to tidy up, and you must excuse our ramshackle ways, please. I
don't believe there's ever been a lady in this house before, you know."

He led her to the smoking-room and ensconced her in the great chair by
the fire. Smilingly she refused a series of offers which ranged from a
sheepskin mantle which he had got in the Pamirs and which he thought
might fit her, to hot whisky and water as a specific against a chill.
But she accepted a pair of slippers and deftly kicked off the brogues
provided by Mrs. Morran. Also, while Dickson started rapaciously on a
second breakfast, she allowed him to pour her out a cup of coffee.

"You are a soldier?" she asked.

"Two years infantry--5th Battalion Lennox Highlanders, and then Flying
Corps. Top-hole time I had too till the day before the Armistice, when
my luck gave out and I took a nasty toss. Consequently I'm not as fast
on my legs now as I'd like to be."

"You were a friend of Captain Kennedy?"

"His oldest. We were at the same private school, and he was at
m'tutors, and we were never much separated till he went abroad to cram
for the Diplomatic and I started east to shoot things."

"Then I will tell you what I told Captain Kenne