e exactly how you came by the wound in your foot?"

Granet turned a little around. There was a queer change in his face as
he looked back at his uncle.

"Do you know the man at that corner table?" he asked.

Sir Alfred glanced across the room.

"Very slightly. I spoke to him an hour ago. He thanked me for some
ambulances. He is the chief inspector of hospitals, I think--Major
Thomson, his name is."

"Did you happen to say that I was dining with you?"

Sir Alfred reflected for a moment.

"I believe that I did mention it," he admitted. "Why?"

Granet struggled for a moment with an idea and rejected it. He drained
his glass and leaned across the table.

"He's a dull enough person really," he remarked, a little under his
breath, "but I seem to be always running up against him. Once or twice
he's given me rather a start."

Sir Alfred smiled. He called the wine steward and pointed to his
nephew's glass.

"The best thing in the world," he observed drily, as he watched the wine
being poured out, "for presentiments."

CHAPTER XVII

Lady Anselman stood once more in the foyer of the Ritz Hotel and counted
her guests. It was a smaller party this time, and in its way a less
distinguished one. There were a couple of officers, friends of Granet's,
back from the Front on leave; Lady Conyers, with Geraldine and Olive;
Granet himself; and a tall, dark girl with pallid complexion and
brilliant eyes, who had come with Lady Anselman and who was standing now
by her side.

"I suppose you know everybody, my dear?" Lady Anselman asked her
genially.

The girl shook her head a little disconsolately.

"We are so little in London, Lady Anselman," she murmured. "You know how
difficult father is, and just now he is worse than ever. In fact, if he
weren't so hard at work I don't believe he'd have let me come even now."

"These scientific men," Lady Anselman declared, "are great boons to the
country, but as parent I am afraid they are just a little thoughtless.
Major Harrison and Colonel Grey, let me present you to my young
charge--for the day only, unfortunately--Miss Worth. Now, Ronnie, if you
can be persuaded to let Miss Conyers have a moment's peace perhaps you
will show us the way in to lunch."

Granet promptly abandoned his whispered conversation with Geraldine. The
little company moved in and took their places at the round table which
was usually reserved for Lady Anselman on Tuesdays.

"Some people," the latter rema