er agreed. "It's his disinterestedness I suspect."

"Then if the post were at your disposal, you would not offer it to him?"

Challoner was silent for a few moments. It looked as if Greythorpe
were disposed to favour Sedgwick's claim and to concur might save a
good deal of trouble. Even then, it did not follow that Sedgwick would
be chosen, because there were higher authorities to be consulted.
Challoner thought he would not be blamed if they refused the man the
post, because he did Mrs. Chudleigh the justice to believe that she
would not doubt his assurance that he had done his best and that she
would afterwards put no further pressure on him. It was her lover's
promotion she wished to secure. For all that, easy as it would be to
humour her, he had been asked for his opinion by a man who trusted him,
and he must give it honestly.

"No," he said with a resolute air, "I should prefer either of the
others. On the whole, I believe I'd select the first on your list."

"You seem to have thought it well over."

"That's true. It's a rather grave matter," Challoner answered drily.

"Well," said Greythorpe, "my idea is that Sedgwick should be left in
charge a month or two longer. Then if we send out another man, we'll
try to find him something else."

He changed the subject and Challoner lighted a cigar and listened,
sitting back in the shadow where his companion could not see him. He
felt weary, because he had borne a heavy strain during the last few
days, and the course he had taken had cost him a good deal. Now he
knew that if Sedgwick were not appointed Mrs. Chudleigh would hold him
responsible.

CHAPTER XX

MRS. CHUDLEIGH MAKES A FRESH ATTEMPT

Next evening Challoner and Greythorpe dined at Foster's with several
other guests, and the Colonel was placed next to Mrs. Chudleigh, while
Mrs. Keith sat opposite. He found his position uncomfortable, because
when he looked up he saw that his old friend was watching him, and,
though she chatted carelessly, there was now and then a hint of tension
in his companion's manner. It was a relief when Mrs. Foster rose, but
he afterwards felt that opposing influences were being brought to bear
on him. When the party dispersed, as was usual at Hazlehurst, some to
play billiards and some to the drawing-room, Mrs. Keith engaged him in
casual talk and stuck to him determinedly for a time. He had no doubt
that her intentions were good, since he noticed Mrs. Chudleig