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It had become very cold and the powderysnow was beginning again.
He was very
amusing, and the third in the group wasforgotten. We oughtnt to takechances
with so big a man.
I am feeling weary, and I have much to do to-morrow.
IVAfter
breakfast next day Adam sat in Loefflers sitting-room.
In the dim light at the
end of it stood the rock-like figure of Andrew Amos. You were the man on the
boat, he said, the man who saved me frombeing flung into the sea?
VAdam and
Falconet dined in the latters rooms in St Jamess Street. This was getting very
unpleasant, but things might improve whenthey turned into the Rhône valley.
I
was a British officer, and for three years ofthe war I was behind your
front.
He was shadowing Loeffler in the early fall, and byall accounts had a
tough job of it.
He remembered with disgust a flight from London to Viennathe
year before.
That very morning a greatman had quite humbly asked him to do
certain things as a kindnessto Italy.
The sign he had asked for hadbeen given
him. It had become very cold and the powderysnow was beginning again. Can you
change your person like a wizard?
Just a prick of a needle and a spot of the
right kind of dope. He settled himself down to some hours of boredom or
discomfort.
I was a British officer, and for three years ofthe war I was behind
your front. It was drawn from the WesternFront in the war. He liked his
comfort, but he was aware that thegame must be played according to its
rigour.
Lord Lamanchathought I might as well have a look at you, for Im a
doctor byprofession. He laughed and hislaugh was not pleasant. But there is a
great and potent world which the Governments do notcontrol.
Adam appeared in
the library about eleven oclock after Jocelyn andhis friend had departed.
It
does not altogether depend upon the Governments. There he halted, for he heard
a sound below him.
Loeffler raised hisglass to the health of the
compounder.
Jacquelines eyes were wide and perplexed. The man who had spoken
handed him back his case.
But the park was dim, and the trees were wreathed in
mist,and the ridge was only a shadow.
It was toolate to arrange that now, so he
must make the best of the stupidbusiness. Loeffler had taken off his coat and
waistcoat and was lying on hisbed.
He got to his feet and stood in front of the
fire. You are at the moment the chief builder, so my services are at
yourdisposal.
All of them boiling up to be nasty, you think?
He had shown a
grave face to Falconet, and gravity was the key ofhis mood, a grave expectancy.
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