ttle ones with long hair and bigger ones; they learn their lessons
there, it's a school. The gardener left his ladder there one day and I
climbed up. There were a lot of girls there. I nodded to them, and they
all came to the wall. I made them all laugh. I asked them to come over
the wall and toss for sovereigns--then a lady came and told me to go
away. She didn't seem to like me."

Jones, all during luncheon--the meal was served in his own
apartments--revolved things in his mind, Smithers amongst others.
Smithers' mania for handling gold had evidently been satisfied by giving
him these few coins to play with. They were real ones, Jones had
satisfied himself of that. Smithers, despite his want of chin, was
evidently not a person to be put off with counterfeit coin. Jones had
come down from London dressed just as he had called at Curzon Street.
That is to say in a black morning coat and grey trousers. His tall hat
had evidently been forgotten by his deporters. After luncheon he asked
for a cap to wear in the garden, and was supplied with a grey tweed
shooting cap of Hoover's.

With this on his head he took his seat in an arbour, an arbour which, he
noticed, had its opening facing the house.

Here, smoking, he continued revolving his plans, and here afternoon tea
was served to him.

Ten minutes later the colonel and the major began another game of
croquet, and five minutes after that, came from the house Smithers,
with a butterfly net in his hand.

Jones left the arbour and joined Smithers.

"The sovereigns have come," said Jones.

"The bag of sovereigns?"

"Yes, with a big red seal from the bankers. I'm going to give you
fifty."

"Oh, Lord," said Smithers, "but you haven't said anything to Hoover?"

"Not a word--but you must do something for me before I give you them."

"What's that?"

"I want you to go up to Colonel Hawker and take him aside."

"Yes?"

"And tell him that Major Barstowe says he's a liar."

"Yes."

"That's all."

"That's easy enough," said Smithers.

"I'll stand by the wall here, and if any of the girls look over, as they
probably will, for I'm going to whistle to them, I'll make them come
over and toss for sovereigns."

"That would be a lark," said the unfortunate.

"Bother," said Jones, "I've forgot."

"What?"

"All my sovereigns are upstairs in the bag--I know--lend me yours whilst
I'm waiting."

"I--I never lend sovereigns," said Smithers.

"Why, I'm going to _give_ y