and I longed to get at you somehow and tell you
about it. I wanted to get it off my chest. And now," said he with a
breath of relief, "thank God, I've been able to do so."

"I wish you would tell me of an incident or two," said I.

"He has got a life-preserver that looks like an ordinary cane--had it
specially made. It's quite famous. Men tell me that the knob is a rich,
deep, polished vermilion. He'll take on any number of Boches with it
single-handed. If there's any sign of wire-cutting, he'll not let the
men fire, but will take it on himself, and creep like a Gurkha and do
the devils in. One night he got a whole listening post like that. He
does a lot of things a second in command hasn't any business to do, but
his men would follow him anywhere. He bears a charmed life. I could
tell you lots of things--but I see my old General's getting restive."
He rose, stretched out his hand. "At any rate, take my word for it--if
there's a man in the British Army who doesn't know what fear is, that
man is Leonard Boyce."

He nodded in his frank way and rejoined his old General. As I had had
enough exciting information for one visit to town, I motored back to
Wellingsford.

CHAPTER VIII

My house, as I have already mentioned, is situated at the extreme end
of the town on the main road, already called the Rowdon Road, which is
an extension of the High Street. It stands a little way back to allow
room for a semicircular drive, at each end of which is a broad gate.
The semicircle encloses a smooth-shaven lawn of which I am vastly
proud. In the spandrels by the side of the house are laburnums and
lilacs and laurels. From gate to gate stretch iron railings, planted in
a low stone parapet and unencumbered with vegetation, so that the view
from road to lawn and from lawn to road is unrestricted. Thus I can
take up my position on my lawn near the railings and greet all
passers-by.

It was a lovely May morning. My laburnums and lilacs were in flower. On
the other side of the way the hedge of white-thorn screening the
grounds of a large preparatory school was in flower also, and
deliciously scented the air. I sat in my accustomed spot, a table with
writing materials, tobacco, and books by my side, and a mass of
newspapers at my feet. There was going to be a coalition Government.
Great statesmen were going to forget that there was such a thing as
party politics, except in the distribution of minor offices, when the
claims of g