United States or Estonia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"That's all right," Norgate reassured him. "Let's see, it's Tuesday, isn't it? I call him Boko. He never leaves me. My week-end shadowers are a trifle less assiduous, but Boko is suspicious. He has deucedly long ears, too." "What the devil are you talking about?" Hebblethwaite demanded, as they sat down. "The fact of it is," Norgate explained, "they don't altogether trust me in my new profession.
"I am perfectly convinced," Norgate replied, "that Hebblethwaite would work for peace at any price. The members of our present Government are pacifists, every one of them, with the possible exception of the Secretary of the Admiralty." "Ah!" Mr. Selingman murmured. "Mr. Spencer Wyatt! He is the gentleman who clamours so hard and fights so well for his navy estimates.
I have given him plainly to understand that you especially are determined to leave France to her fate if war should come, and to preserve our absolute neutrality at all costs." "Go on," Hebblethwaite murmured. "Finish it, anyhow." "There is very little more," Norgate concluded.
Hebblethwaite opened a telephone directory. In a few moments Mr. Bedells, who was his private secretary, appeared. "Richard," his chief directed, "ring up Mr. Spencer Wyatt. Tell him that whatever his engagements may be, I wish to see him here for five minutes. If he is out, you must find out where he is. You can begin by ringing up at his house." Bedells devoted himself to the telephone. Mr.
Hebblethwaite munched a biscuit and sipped his sherry. Presently the latter laid down the telephone and reported success. "Mr. Spencer Wyatt was on his way to a city dinner, sir," he announced. "They caught him in the hall and he will call here." Mr. Hebblethwaite nodded. "See that he is sent up directly he comes." In less than five minutes Mr. Spencer Wyatt was ushered in.
I saw Hebblethwaite as I came in. He is a changed man. Talks about raising an immense citizen army in six months. Both his boys have taken up commissions. Hebblethwaite himself is going around the country, recruiting. They are his people, after all. He has given them their prosperity at the expense, alas! of our safety. It's up to them now to prove whether the old spirit is there or not.
"They did not," Norgate admitted. "We've a tough proposition to tackle," Hebblethwaite confessed cheerfully, "but I am with you, Norgate, and to my mind one of the pleasures of being possessed of a certain amount of power is to help one's friends when you believe in the justice of their cause. If you leave things with me, I'll tackle them to-morrow morning."
"Look here, Norgate," Hebblethwaite intervened, "I'm certain you are driving at something serious. Let's have it." "Quite right, I am," Norgate assented. "I just wanted to testify to you that Mr. Bullen's reply to my offer was the patriotic reply of a loyal Irishman.
Then he threw the end into the fireplace, finished his whisky and soda, and rose. "Hebblethwaite," he said, "this is the second time you've treated me like this. I shall give you another chance. There's just one way I may be of use, and I am going to take it on.
Flora said nothing, but looked very sorrowfully at us. Cec I mean Miss Osborne did not appear at all until tea was nearly over, and then she came in from the garden, and Mr Parmenter with her, that everlasting eyeglass stuck in his eye. I do so dislike the man. Father never comes to tea. He says it is only women's rubbish, and laughs at Ephraim Hebblethwaite because he says he likes it.
Word Of The Day