’I’ve only got my own small boy, Sir Henry.  There’s two more of our men gone this morning.  I don’t know if you’ll trust him.  He’s a good boy.’

’Send him along, Forest.  My beast’s a lamb—­you know him.  But look here, Forest’—­Sir Henry dismounted, bridle in hand.  ’Don’t give the Squire notice that I’m here, if you can help it, till you announce me.’

The butler, who, in spite of his grey hair, was a square-set, vigorous-looking fellow, might be said, in reply, to have given the Squire’s visitor a wink.  At any rate a look of understanding passed between the two.  The butler went quickly back into the house, and re-emerged with a boy, who was the small image of his father, to whom Sir Henry cheerfully gave up his cob.  But as Forest led the way through the outer hall he stopped to say: 

’The Squire’s not alone, sir.  There was a gentleman arrived just as Miss Pamela went out.  But I don’t think he’ll stay long.’

‘Who is he?’

’Can’t say, sir.  He’s lodging in the village, and comes to see the Squire’s collections sometimes.’

They were now in a long passage running along the eastern front of the house to a large room which had been added to its southern end, in order to hold the Squire’s library and collections.  Midway the butler turned.

‘You’ve heard, Sir Henry, about Mr. Desmond?’

‘Yes, Miss Pamela told me.’

’Mr. Desmond says he’ll be in France by January.  He’s as pleased as possible, but it’s a deal sooner than Mr. Mannering hoped.’

‘Well, we’ve all got to take our chance in this war,’ said Sir Henry gravely.  ’And the artillery is a bit safer than the infantry.  You know my son Arthur’s a gunner.’

‘I hope he’s all right, sir?’

’Well, he’s still on light work.  He comes home this week for a bit.  He was gassed at Ypres a year and a half ago, and had a bullet taken out of his chest about two months since.  But he is nearly fit again.’

The butler expressed his sympathy with a complete absence of shyness or servility, then threw open a door at the end of the passage, announcing, ‘Sir Henry Chicksands, sir.’

‘D-mn!’ said a voice loudly within.

Sir Henry gave an involuntary start.  Another look passed between him and Forest, amused or interrogative on the visitor’s part, non-committal on the butler’s.

* * * * *

The library of Mannering Hall as Sir Henry Chicksands entered it presented a curious spectacle.  It was a long, barn-like room, partly lined with books, and partly with glass cases, in which Greek vases, Tanagra figures, and other Greek and Etruscan antiquities, all carefully marked and labelled, were displayed.  A few large tables stood at intervals on the shabby carpet, also laden with books and specimens.  They conveyed an impression of dust and disorder, as though no housemaid had been allowed to touch them