reports from Germany have been wonderfully accurate on the whole.” 

 He stopped. 

 “Tell me,” he asked suddenly, “is Strangwise a liar, do you think?” 

 Desmond laughed. The question was so very unexpected. 

 “Let me explain what I mean,” said the Chief. “There is a type of man who is quite incapable of telling the plain, unvarnished truth. That type of fellow might have the most extraordinary adventure happen to him and yet be unable to let it stand on its merits. When he narrates it, he trims it up with all kinds of embroidery. Is Strangwise that type?” 

 Desmond thought a moment. 

 “Your silence is very eloquent,” said the Chief drily. 

 Desmond laughed. 

 “It’s not the silence of consent,” he said, “but if you want me to be quite frank about Strangwise, Chief, I don’t mind telling you I don’t like him overmuch. We were very intimate in France. We were in some very tight corners together and he never let me down. He showed himself to be a very fine fellow, indeed. There are points about him I admire immensely. I love his fine physique, his manliness. I’m sure he’s got great strength of character, too. It’s because I admire all this about him that I think perhaps it’s just jealousy on my part when I feel...” 

 “What?” said the Chief. 

 “Well,” said Desmond slowly, “I feel myself trying to like something below the surface in the man. And then I am balked. There seems to be something abysmally deep behind the facade, if you know what I mean. If I think about it much, it seems to me that there is too much surface about Strangwise and not enough foundation! And he smiles... Well, rather often, doesn’t he?” 

 “I know what you mean,” said the Chief. “I always tell my young men to be wary when a man smiles too much. Smiles are sometimes camouflage, to cover up something that mustn’t be seen underneath! Strangwise is a Canadian, isn’t he?” 

 “I think so,” answered Desmond, “anyhow, he has lived there. But he got his commission over here. He came over some time in 1915, I believe, and joined up.” 

 “Ah, here we are!” cried the Chief, steering the car down a turning marked “Laleham Villas.” 

 

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