"No," replied the General with a singular pause.
"No, I once knew a man who did the same thing for a different purpose,
but the idea was identical. I do not claim to be the originator."
"And there was no hitch? It was successful?" inquired Agar.
"Yes," replied the older soldier in a far-away voice, as if he had
mentally gone back to the results of that man's deception. "Yes, it was
successful. By the way, you say your people live down in Hertfordshire?"
"Yes."
"I once knew a girl--long ago, in my younger days--who married a man
called Agar, and went to live in Hertfordshire. The name did not strike
me until you mentioned the county. I wonder if the lady is now your
step-mother."
"My step-mother's name was Hethbridge," replied Jem Agar.
"The same. How strange!" said the General indifferently. "Well, she has
probably forgotten my existence these thirty years. She has one son, you
say?"
"Yes, Arthur. He is twenty-three--five years younger than myself."
The shifty black eyes excelled themselves at this moment in rapidity of
observation.
Pages:
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117