[pg 52] "Not much, I fear," said Bernard, "if all the tales we hear are true." "Right," said Durham. "This won't be the military promenade the generality of people suppose it will be. The Boers are obstinate." "So are we," argued Conniston; "but don't let us talk shop. We'll get heaps of that at the Cape. Mark, you wanted to see Bernard about some business. Shall I leave the room?" "No, no!" said Gore, hastily. "Mark can say what he likes about my business before you, Conniston. I have nothing to conceal." "Nothing?" asked Durham, looking meaningly at his friend. Gore allowed an expression of surprise to flit across his expressive face. "What are you driving at, Mark?" "Well," said Durham, slowly, "your grandfather came to see me the other day on business—" "I can guess what the business was," put in Bernard, bitterly, and thinking that a new will had been made. The lawyer smiled. "Quite so. But don't ask me to betray the secrets of my client. But Sir Simon knew you were in the Imperial Yeomanry, Bernard. He learned that from Beryl." "Who is, no doubt, spying on me. It is thanks to Julius that I had the row with my grandfather. He—" "You needn't trouble to explain," interrupted Durham. "I know. Sir Simon explained. But he also asked me if you knew he was in town." "I told Bernard," said Conniston, "and you told me." [pg 53] "Yes. But does Bernard know where Sir Simon is stopping?" [pg 53] "No," said Gore, emphatically, "I don't." "Neither do I. What are you getting at, Mark?" "It's a queer thing," went on Durham, taking no notice of Conniston's question, "but afterwards—yesterday, in fact—Sir Simon wrote saying that he heard from Mrs. Gilroy of an Imperial Yeoman who had been visiting in the kitchen of Crimea Square—"
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