Mr. Gordon Jones hesitated.

"Such things, I know, are little to you, Sir Alfred," he continued, "but
at the same time I want you to believe that his Majesty's Government
will not be unmindful of your help at this juncture. To speak of rewards
at such a time is perhaps premature. I know that ordinary honours do not
appeal to you, yet it has been suggested to me by a certain person that
I should assure you of the country's gratitude. In plain words, there is
nothing you may ask for which it would not be our pleasure and privilege
to give you."

Sir Alfred bowed slightly.

"You are very kind," he said. "Later on, perhaps, one may reflect. At
present there seems to be only one stern duty before us, and for that
one needs no reward."

The two men parted. Sir Alfred rose from the chair in front of his
desk and threw himself into the easy-chair which his guest had been
occupying. A ray of city sunshine found its way through the tangle of
tall buildings on the other side of the street, lay in a zigzag path
across his carpet, and touched the firm lines of his thoughtful face. He
sat there, slowly tapping the sides of the chair with his pudgy fingers.
So a great soldier might have sat, following out the progress of his
armies in different countries, listening to the roar of their guns,
watching their advance, their faltering, their success and their
failures. Sir Alfred's vision was in a sense more sordid in many ways
more complicated, yet it too, had its dramatic side. He looked at the
money-markets of the world, he saw exchanges rise and fall. He saw in
the dim vista no khaki-clad army with flashing bayonets, but a long,
thin line of black-coated men with sallow faces, clutching their
money-bags.

There was a knock at the door and his secretary entered.

"Captain Granet has been here for some time, sir," he announced softly.

The banker came back to the present. He woke up, indeed, with a little
start.

"Show my nephew in at once," he directed. "I shall be engaged with
him for at least a quarter of an hour. Kindly go round to the Bank of
England and arrange for an interview with Mr. Williams for three o'clock
this afternoon."

The clerk silently withdrew. Granet entered, a few minutes later. The
banker greeted him pleasantly.

"Well, Ronnie," he exclaimed, "I thought that you were going to be down
in Norfolk for a week! Come in. Bring your chair up to my side, so. This
is one of my deaf mornings."

Granet silen