do something here? You will promise
me not to get into personal contact with Harry,--at least until I have
seen him and spoken with him. Not that he does not deserve a dog's
hiding, but I should like to see him and talk with him first."

"Why should I promise that?" he asked sharply.

"For one thing,--because, doubtless, Harry is home now. And again,
there is going to be a week-end House Party at our place. Harry's
engagement of marriage with Lady Rosemary Granton is to be announced;
and Lady Rosemary will be there.

"It would only mean trouble for you, Jim;--and, God knows, this is
trouble enough."

"What do I care for trouble?" he cried defiantly. "What trouble can
make me more unhappy than I now am?"

"You must avoid further trouble for Peggy's sake," I interposed.
"Jim,--let me see Harry first. Do what you like afterwards. Promise
me, Jim."

He swallowed his anger.

"God!--it will be a hard promise to keep if ever I come across him.
But I do promise, just because I like you, George, as I hate him."

"May I keep this meantime?" I asked, holding up Harry's letter to Peggy.

"No! Give it to me. I might need it."

"But I might find greater use for it, Jim. Won't you let me have it,
for a time at least?"

"Oh! all right, all right," he answered, spreading his hands over his
leather apron.

I left him there amid the roar of the fire and the odour of sizzling
hoofs, and wended my way slowly up the dust-laden hill, back home,
having forgotten entirely, in the great sorrow that had fallen, to tell
Jim my object in calling on him that day.

CHAPTER IV

Viscount Harry, Captain of the Guards

On nearing home, I noticed the "Flying Dandy," Harry's favourite horse,
standing at the front entrance in charge of a groom.

"Hello, Wally," I shouted in response to the groom's salute and broad
grin. "Is Captain Harry home?"

"Yes, sir! Three hours agone, sir. 'E's just agoing for a canter,
sir, for the good of 'is 'ealth."

I went inside.

"Hi! William," I cried to the retreating figure of our portly and
aristocratic butler. "Where's Harry?"

"Captain Harry, sir, is in the armoury. Any message, sir?"

"No! it is all right, William. I shall go along in and see him."

I went down the corridor, to the most ancient part of Hazelmere House;
the old armoury, with its iron-studded oaken doors and its suggestion
of spooks and goblins. I pushed in to that sombre-looking place, which
held so