king off his cap. Thus he came to the salute instinctively.
The old man bowed with reserved dignity; in spite of his queer get-up he
bore himself well; the tall handsome Captain did not seem to efface or
outclass him.

"Captain Naylor has distinguished himself highly in the war, sir,"
Beaumaroy continued.

"I am very glad to make the acquaintance of any officer who has
distinguished himself in the service of his country." Then his tone
became easier and more familiar. "Don't let me disturb you, gentlemen. My
business with you, Hector, will wait. I have finished my work, and can
rest with a clear conscience."

"Couldn't we persuade you to stay a few minutes with us, and join us in a
whisky-and-soda?"

"Yes, by all means, Hector. But no whisky. Give me a glass of my own
wine; I see a bottle on the sideboard."

He came round the table and sat down in the big chair. "Pray seat
yourself, Captain," he said, waving his hand towards the stool which
Beaumaroy had lately occupied.

The Captain obeyed the gesture, but his huge frame looked awkward on the
low seat; he felt aware of it, then aware of the cap on his head; he
snatched it off hastily, and twiddled it between his fingers. Mr.
Saffron, high up in the great chair, sitting erect, seemed now actually
to dominate the scene--Beaumaroy standing by, with an arm on the back of
the chair, holding a tall glass full of the golden wine ready to Mr.
Saffron's command; the old man reached up his thin right hand, took it,
and sipped with evident pleasure.

Alec Naylor was embarrassed; he sat in silence. But Beaumaroy seemed
quite at his ease. He began with a statement which was, in its literal
form, no falsehood; but that was about all that could be said for it on
the score of veracity. "Before you came in, sir, we were just speaking of
uniforms. Do you remember seeing our blue Air Force uniform when we were
in town last week? I remember that you expressed approval of it."

In any case the topic was very successful. Mr. Saffron embraced it with
eagerness; with much animation he discussed the merits, whether practical
or decorative, of various uniforms--field-gray, khaki, horizon blue, Air
Force blue, and a dozen others worn by various armies, corps, and
services. Alec was something of an enthusiast in this line too; he soon
forgot his embarrassment, and joined in the conversation freely, though
with a due respect to the obvious thoroughness of Mr. Saffron's
information. Watch