ring up Jephson, and if he's already conscripted, I
can doss at the Club. All that is easy. But tell me, what is the
matter?"

"Oh! I can't here." Constantia's voice thrilled on the wire.
"It's pretty awful. I never gave him leave--_never_!"

"You're getting pretty incoherent," said I. "We'll have it out when
we meet. Dinner? . . . No, I shall pick up a meal on the train.
. . . Mustn't expect me before 8.30; I have to put a draft through
and see them off. Odd jobs, besides. . . . These are strenuous
times."

"Roddy, you're an angel!"

"Not a bit," said I; "and I warn you not to expect me in that
capacity. You'll observe that I haven't congratulated you yet."
I put this in rather savagely.

"You're also rather a brute," answered the voice. "But you'll come?"

"Please God," said I.

"Thank God!" answered she; and I hung up the receiver.

Well, in my jubilation I had forgotten to ask for leave to run
up and get kit. But leave was no sooner asked for than given.
From Victoria that evening I taxi'd straight to Jermyn Street, where
I found Jephson, warned by telegram, elate at the prospect of
soldiering. I was able, after a talk with my Colonel, to inform him
that he had also a prospect of coming along as my servant, and this
lifted him to the seventh heaven. Then I went out, picked up a
dinner at Arthur's, and walked on to Upper Brook Street.

In those days London had not started to shroud its lamps. One stood
a few paces short of the porch of Number 105; and as I turned into
Brook Street I saw a man come hastily down the steps, and enter a
taxi anchored there. The butler followed and closed the door upon
him. The night had begun to drizzle, and there was a sough of
sou'westerly wind in the air. I turned up the collar of my service
overcoat and, as the taxi passed, walked pretty briskly forward and
intercepted Mrs. Denistoun's butler, who, after a stare at the
retreating vehicle, had reascended the steps and was about to close
the door. Recognising me by the light of the porch lamp, he opened
the door wide, and full upon the figure of Constantia, standing in
the hallway. She gave a little gasp and came to me, holding out her
hand.

"You were always as good as your word, Roddy. Come into the library.
Where are you sleeping, by the way?"

"In my flat," said I. "Jephson will not be called up for a day or
two. He has a fire lit, and will sit up for me."

"He may have to sit up late," re