s he was crossing the hall, after having
exchanged greetings with several friends, he came face to face with
Surgeon-Major Thomson. The latter paused.

"I am afraid you don't remember me, Sir Alfred," he said, "but I have
been hoping for an opportunity of thanking you personally for the six
ambulance cars you have endowed. I am Surgeon-Major Thomson, chief
inspector of Field Hospitals."

Sir Alfred held out his hand affably.

"I remember you perfectly, Major," he declared. "I am very glad that my
gift is acceptable. Anything one can do to lessen the suffering of those
who are fighting our battle, is almost a charge upon our means."

"It is very fortunate for us that you feel like that," the other
replied. "Thank you once more, sir."

The two men separated. Sir Alfred turned to the hall-porter.

"I am expecting my nephew in to dine," he said,--"Captain Granet. Bring
him into the smoking-room, will you, directly he arrives."

"Certainly, sir!"

Sir Alfred passed on across the marble hall. Thomson, whose hand had
been upon his hat, replaced it upon the peg. He looked after the great
banker and stood for a moment deep in thought. Then he addressed the
hall-porter.

"By-the-bye, Charles," he inquired, "if you ask a non-member to dinner,
you have to dine in the strangers' room, I suppose?"

"Certainly, sir," the man replied. "It is just at the back of the
general dining-room."

"I suppose an ordinary member couldn't dine in there alone?"

"It is not customary, sir."

Surgeon-Major Thomson made his way to the telephone booth. When he
emerged, he interviewed the head-waiter.

"Keep a small table for me in the strangers' room," he ordered. "I shall
require dinner for two."

"At what time, sir?"

Major Thomson seemed for a moment deaf. He was looking through the open
door of the smoking-room to where Sir Alfred was deep in the pages of a
review.

"Are there many people dining there to-night?" he asked.

"Sir Alfred has a guest at eight o'clock, sir," the man replied.
"There are several others, I think, but they have not ordered tables
specially."

"At a quarter past eight, if you please. I shall be in the
billiard-room, Charles," he added, turning to the hall-porter.

Sir Alfred wearied soon of the pages of his review and leaned back in
his chair, his hands folded in front of him, gazing through the window
at the opposite side of the way. A good many people, passing backwards
and forwards, glanced at hi