“Does this lead on into Beechfield, sir?  I want to find The Trellis House.  I’ve been there once before, but it was broad daylight then.”

Radmore peered at the speaker:  a thin, medium-sized woman she seemed to be; obviously not one of the country folk—­by her accent a Londoner.

“Go straight on, and in about a quarter of an hour, you’ll find The Trellis House on your right.  But you’d better enquire as soon as you get into the village itself.  Is it Mrs. Crofton’s house that you want to find?”

“Yes, that’s the place I’m bound for,” said the woman.

“Look here,” said Radmore good-naturedly.  “I was only going for a walk.  I’ll take you along to The Trellis House.  You might easily miss it.”

He turned, and they began walking along the road side by side.

“I suppose Mrs. Crofton ’asn’t gone away yet, I’m sure to find ’er there, sir?” There was a doubting, almost a resentful, tone in the mincing voice.

“I think she’s at home.  Isn’t she expecting you?” Radmore had taken the woman for a superior servant.

“She’s not expecting me exactly, but me and my ’usband have been ’oping for a letter from Mrs. Crofton.  As nothing’s come, I thought I’d just come down and see ’er.  My ’usband asked ’er to get the address of a gentleman who ’e thinks might ’elp ’im—­Major Radmore.  I don’t suppose as what you’ve ever ’eard of ’im, sir?”

Radmore said quietly, “I know Major Radmore rather well.  May I ask your name?”

She hesitated, then answered:—­“Mrs. Piper, sir.  My ’usband was Colonel Crofton’s dog-breeding assistant, and ’e’s about to start for ’imself in the same line, if ’e can get the money that’s been promised ’im.  If ’e can’t get that money—­well, ’e’ll have to go into service again, and ’e thought that Major Radmore, who’s a kind, generous gentleman, might ’elp ’im to a job.”

Radmore felt amused, interested, and, yes, a little touched.  Evidently his distaste for Piper had not been reciprocal.

“I suppose to start dog-breeding requires a good bit of money,” he said.

“Well, sir, it’s this way.  Fancy dogs fetch a good bit more money than they did.  Such a lot o’ breeding stopped during the War.  But what with one thing and another, and prices ’aving gone up so, Piper says ’twould be no good going in for such a thing under a matter of L500.  But we’ve got good hopes of getting the money,” said the woman composedly.

“Have you indeed?”

Then he felt rather ashamed of the little game he was playing with this no doubt excellent woman.

“Look here, Mrs. Piper,” he exclaimed, “perhaps I ought to tell you frankly that my name is Radmore.  I no longer call myself ’Major Radmore.’  My address for the present is Old Place, Beechfield.  But Beechfield alone would find me, and I hope your husband will let me know if I can do anything for him.”

“There now!  Could one ever hope for such a thing coming to pass as my meeting you, sir, accidental like?”