The Messenger

uge in a work-bag, which she unhooked from the back of her chair. She jerked it open hurriedly on her knees and bent her head

illiam, ruffling up the little hair he had le

la!" he threw over his

that even she, past mistress in the art of conveying the finer shades o

at fella says she ought to go and register. Makes ou

What nonsense! Why o

informal, and only for a

the creatures, if they're in such a ridi

s. It's got to be to-night." Sir Wi

riend. Napier, too, had come forwar

haunted him afterwards. If it hadn't been absurd, he would have thought she was thanking him with all her soul; was

ng, "If you really must, I'm coming too!"-her eyes angry, her face ashamed. Miss von Schwarzenberg made no an

n't know." Sir William fume

iam." The serv

hip would have cried, "Where's the lifeboat?" w

m'lady. It's o

footman was catching it on the other side

It's coming round

h Nan were the person desired by the po

rolled to the ground, but she didn't notice. Her blue eyes were on

ied over to him. "S

f-past six on official business-I'd go with you," he said handsomely to Miss von Schwarzenberg. Miss von Schw

med not to know his part in this scene. He stood silent, lo

Greta dear?" And then, a good deal unstrung at the possibility of having her offer accep

e mixture of tolerance and delicate contempt, "t

ought entire repose to Sir William. He

n this little-" he paused as the butler passed between th

Then with extreme felicity she added, "Why, before

er get to Newton Hackett before the po-the place shuts." The fraction of an instant her eyes rested on

yond all praise, to give the expedition an air

a bore.... If Colin or Neil had been at home, he wouldn't have had to ask anything so admittedly outside the range of a private secretary's

d out of an upper window. "Well, I do think; sendin

. Back soon." Miss Greta

niform confronted them, on the oth

ector Adler?"

h a high color and heavy

lephoned to,

ith had telephone

his lady's errand." Napier

ogation we

ame is Swo

Schwarz

to like having his p

you sp

spel

hristia

a Margu

e spel

obli

were yo

hrenh

had done so, he looked at the wo

Hano

many, y

over, G

about which already such a host of

aking this business too seriously, with his "Germany, you mean,"

er," said Miss Ellis i

d her with his serious,

eri

id, and los

burger, what is the

it seemed to be from a natural dis

he touch of hauteur in the tone of her correction, for instantly she changed

M

he most com-usual

not Ahdler.

n," she said, less cauti

about it," he

means-" Na

f a corrupt Adler. What's

ame into the family of Sir William

is put in stiffly. "Haven't you heard that by telep

formation by telephone. How long do

ve told you," said Nap

is foreigner who had accused him of being a German (him, James Adler, for the love of God!) and had accused the Adlers of being corrupted, was somehow getting the best of the interview. He was already accustomed (and the war was as yet counted by weeks) to seeing the few

ade this into a proscribed area," he said with a touch

emembered, when Sir William took the trouble to see about

uspicion. Just this kind of case ev

r back. "Better take care of it. You'll need it if you do stay

aintained a

uch a further permi

in this case to me." The inspector was dabbing some purp

carlet. "A German is wh

He pointed downwards wi

pon Nan. The girl's eyes had filled. "It's an outrage," she said in a chok

rt of person," she said, "of course must object ve

nger-print me, too!" she said between pleading and c

n American. She'

y. You oughtn't to

I ought to say better