ToCarolineGrosvenorDuringthepastyear，intheintervalsofanactivelife，Ihaveamusedmyselfwithconstructingthistale。Ithasbeenscribbledineverykindofoddplaceandmoment—inEnglandandabroad，duringlongjourneys，inhalf—hoursbetweengravertasks;anditbears，I
　　fear，themarkofitsgipsybegetting。Butithasamusedmetowrite，andIshallbewellrepaidifitamusesyou—andafewothers—toread。
　　Letnomanorwomancallitseventsimprobable。Thewarhasdriventhatwordfromourvocabulary，andmelodramahasbecometheprosiestrealism。Thingsunimaginedbeforehappendailytoourfriendsbyseaandland。Theonechanceinathousandishabituallytaken，andasoftenasnotsucceeds。Coincidence，likesomenewBriareus，stretchesahundredlongarmshourlyacrosstheearth。Someday，whenthefullhistoryiswritten—soberhistorywithampledocuments—thepoorromancerwillgiveupbusinessandfalltoreadingMissAusteninahermitage。
　　Thecharactersofthetale，ifyouthinkhard，youwillrecall。
　　Sandyyouknowwell。ThatgreatspiritwaslastheardofatBasra，whereheoccupiesthepostthatoncewasHarryBullivant’s。RichardHannayiswherehelongedtobe，commandinghisbattalionontheugliestbitoffrontintheWest。MrJohnS。Blenkiron，fullofhonourandwhollycuredofdyspepsia，hasreturnedtotheStates，aftervainlyendeavouringtotakePeterwithhim。AsforPeter，hehasattainedtheheightofhisambition。HehasshavedhisbeardandjoinedtheFlyingCorps。
　　CHAPTERONE
　　AMissionisProposedIhadjustfinishedbreakfastandwasfillingmypipewhenIgotBullivant’stelegram。ItwasatFurling，thebigcountryhouseinHampshirewhereIhadcometoconvalesceafterLoos，andSandy，whowasinthesamecase，washuntingforthemarmalade。Iflunghimtheflimsywiththebluestrippasteddownonit，andhewhistled。
　　’Hullo，Dick，you’vegotthebattalion。Ormaybeit’sastaffbillet。You’llbeablightedbrass—hat，comingitheavyoverthehard—workingregimentalofficer。Andtothinkofthelanguageyou’vewastedonbrass—hatsinyourtime！’
　　Isatandthoughtforabit，forthename’Bullivant’carriedmebackeighteenmonthstothehotsummerbeforethewar。Ihadnotseenthemansince，thoughIhadreadabouthiminthepapers。FormorethanayearIhadbeenabusybattalionofficer，withnootherthoughtthantohammeralotofrawstuffintogoodsoldiers。Ihadsucceededprettywell，andtherewasnoproudermanonearththanRichardHannaywhenhetookhisLennoxHighlandersovertheparapetsonthatgloriousandbloody25thdayofSeptember。Looswasnopicnic，andwehadhadsomeuglybitsofscrappingbeforethat，buttheworstbitofthecampaignIhadseenwasatea—partytotheshowIhadbeeninwithBullivantbeforethewarstarted。[MajorHannay’snarrativeofthisaffairhasbeenpublishedunderthetitleof_The_Thirty—nine_Steps。]
　　Thesightofhisnameonatelegramformseemedtochangeallmyoutlookonlife。Ihadbeenhopingforthecommandofthebattalion，andlookingforwardtobeinginatthefinishwithBrotherBoche。Butthismessagejerkedmythoughtsontoanewroad。
　　Theremightbeotherthingsinthewarthanstraightforwardfighting。
　　WhyonearthshouldtheForeignOfficewanttoseeanobscureMajoroftheNewArmy，andwanttoseehimindouble—quicktime？
　　’I’mgoinguptotownbythetentrain，’Iannounced;’I’llbebackintimefordinner。’
　　’Trymytailor，’saidSandy。’He’sgotaverynicetasteinredtabs。Youcanusemyname。’
　　Anideastruckme。’You’reprettywellallrightnow。IfIwireforyou，willyoupackyourownkitandmineandjoinme？’
　　’Right—o！I’llacceptajobonyourstaffiftheygiveyouacorps。
　　Ifsobeasyoucomedowntonight，beagoodchapandbringabarrelofoystersfromSweeting’s。’
　　ItravelleduptoLondoninaregularNovemberdrizzle，whichclearedupaboutWimbledontowaterysunshine。InevercouldstandLondonduringthewar。Itseemedtohavelostitsbearingsandbrokenoutintoallmannerofbadgesanduniformswhichdidnotfitinwithmynotionofit。Onefeltthewarmoreinitsstreetsthaninthefield，orratheronefelttheconfusionofwarwithoutfeelingthepurpose。Idaresayitwasallright;butsinceAugust1914Ineverspentadayintownwithoutcominghomedepressedtomyboots。
　　ItookataxianddrovestraighttotheForeignOffice。SirWalterdidnotkeepmewaitinglong。ButwhenhissecretarytookmetohisroomIwouldnothaverecognizedthemanIhadknowneighteenmonthsbefore。
　　Hisbigframeseemedtohavedroppedfleshandtherewasastoopinthesquareshoulders。Hisfacehadlostitsrosinessandwasredinpatches，likethatofamanwhogetstoolittlefreshair。Hishairwasmuchgreyerandverythinaboutthetemples，andtherewerelinesofoverworkbelowtheeyes。Buttheeyeswerethesameasbefore，keenandkindlyandshrewd，andtherewasnochangeinthefirmsetofthejaw。
　　’Wemustonnoaccountbedisturbedforthenexthour，’hetoldhissecretary。Whentheyoungmanhadgonehewentacrosstobothdoorsandturnedthekeysinthem。
　　’Well，MajorHannay，’hesaid，flinginghimselfintoachairbesidethefire。’Howdoyoulikesoldiering？’
　　’Rightenough，’Isaid，’thoughthisisn’tjustthekindofwarI
　　wouldhavepickedmyself。It’sacomfortless，bloodybusiness。Butwe’vegotthemeasureoftheoldBochenow，andit’sdoggedasdoesit。Icountongettingbacktothefrontinaweekortwo。’
　　’Willyougetthebattalion？’heasked。Heseemedtohavefollowedmydoingsprettyclosely。
　　’IbelieveI’veagoodchance。I’mnotinthisshowforhonourandglory，though。IwanttodothebestIcan，butIwishtoheavenitwasover。AllIthinkofiscomingoutofitwithawholeskin。’
　　Helaughed。’Youdoyourselfaninjustice。WhatabouttheforwardobservationpostattheLoneTree？Youforgotaboutthewholeskinthen。’
　　Ifeltmyselfgettingred。’Thatwasallrot，’Isaid，’andIcan’tthinkwhotoldyouaboutit。Ihatedthejob，butIhadtodoittopreventmysubalternsgoingtoglory。Theywerealotoffire—eatingyounglunatics。IfIhadsentoneofthemhe’dhavegoneonhiskneestoProvidenceandaskedfortrouble。’
　　SirWalterwasstillgrinning。
　　’I’mnotquestioningyourcaution。Youhavetherudimentsofit，orourfriendsoftheBlackStonewouldhavegatheredyouinatourlastmerrymeeting。Iwouldquestionitaslittleasyourcourage。
　　Whatexercisesmymindiswhetheritisbestemployedinthetrenches。’
　　’IstheWarOfficedissatisfiedwithme？’Iaskedsharply。
　　’Theyareprofoundlysatisfied。Theyproposetogiveyoucommandofyourbattalion。Presently，ifyouescapeastraybullet，youwillnodoubtbeaBrigadier。Itisawonderfulwarforyouthandbrains。But……Itakeityouareinthisbusinesstoserveyourcountry，Hannay？’
　　’IreckonIam，’Isaid。’Iamcertainlynotinitformyhealth。’
　　Helookedatmyleg，wherethedoctorshaddugouttheshrapnelfragments，andsmiledquizzically。
　　’Prettyfitagain？’heasked。
　　’Toughasasjambok。Ithriveontheracketandeatandsleeplikeaschoolboy。’
　　Hegotupandstoodwithhisbacktothefire，hiseyesstaringabstractedlyoutofthewindowatthewintrypark。
　　’Itisagreatgame，andyouarethemanforit，nodoubt。Butthereareotherswhocanplayit，forsoldieringtodayasksfortheaverageratherthantheexceptioninhumannature。Itislikeabigmachinewherethepartsarestandardized。Youarefighting，notbecauseyouareshortofajob，butbecauseyouwanttohelpEngland。Howifyoucouldhelpherbetterthanbycommandingabattalion—orabrigade—or，ifitcomestothat，adivision？Howifthereisathingwhichyoualonecando？Notsome_embusquebusinessinanoffice，butathingcomparedtowhichyourfightatLooswasaSunday—schoolpicnic。Youarenotafraidofdanger？Well，inthisjobyouwouldnotbefightingwithanarmyaroundyou，butalone。
　　Youarefondoftacklingdifficulties？Well，Icangiveyouataskwhichwilltryallyourpowers。Haveyouanythingtosay？’
　　Myheartwasbeginningtothumpuncomfortably。SirWalterwasnotthemantopitchacasetoohigh。
　　’Iamasoldier，’Isaid，’andunderorders。’
　　’True;butwhatIamabouttoproposedoesnotcomebyanyconceivablestretchwithinthescopeofasoldier’sduties。Ishallperfectlyunderstandifyoudecline。YouwillbeactingasIshouldactmyself—asanysanemanwould。Iwouldnotpressyouforworlds。Ifyouwishit，Iwillnotevenmaketheproposal，butletyougohereandnow，andwishyougoodluckwithyourbattalion。
　　Idonotwishtoperplexagoodsoldierwithimpossibledecisions。’
　　Thispiquedmeandputmeonmymettle。
　　’Iamnotgoingtorunawaybeforethegunsfire。Letmehearwhatyoupropose。’
　　SirWaltercrossedtoacabinet，unlockeditwithakeyfromhischain，andtookapieceofpaperfromadrawer。Itlookedlikeanordinaryhalf—sheetofnote—paper。
　　’Itakeit，’hesaid，thatyourtravelshavenotextendedtotheEast。’
　　’No，’Isaid，’barringashootingtripinEastAfrica。’
　　’Haveyoubyanychancebeenfollowingthepresentcampaignthere？’
　　’I’vereadthenewspapersprettyregularlysinceIwenttohospital。
　　I’vegotsomepalsintheMesopotamiashow，andofcourseI’mkeentoknowwhatisgoingtohappenatGallipoliandSalonika。I
　　gatherthatEgyptisprettysafe。’
　　’IfyouwillgivemeyourattentionfortenminutesIwillsupplementyournewspaperreading。’
　　SirWalterlaybackinanarm—chairandspoketotheceiling。Itwasthebeststory，theclearestandthefullest，Ihadevergotofanybitofthewar。HetoldmejusthowandwhyandwhenTurkeyhadlefttherails。Iheardabouthergrievancesoverourseizureofherironclads，ofthemischiefthecomingofthe_Goebenhadwrought，ofEnverandhispreciousCommitteeandthewaytheyhadgotacinchontheoldTurk。Whenhehadspokenforabit，hebegantoquestionme。
　　’Youareanintelligentfellow，andyouwillaskhowaPolishadventurer，meaningEnver，andacollectionofJewsandgipsiesshouldhavegotcontrolofaproudrace。TheordinarymanwilltellyouthatitwasGermanorganizationbackedupwithGermanmoneyandGermanarms。Youwillinquireagainhow，sinceTurkeyisprimarilyareligiouspower，Islamhasplayedsosmallapartinitall。TheSheikh—ul—Islamisneglected，andthoughtheKaiserproclaimsaHolyWarandcallshimselfHadjiMohammedGuilliamo，andsaystheHohenzollernsaredescendedfromtheProphet，thatseemstohavefallenprettyflat。TheordinarymanagainwillanswerthatIslaminTurkeyisbecomingabacknumber，andthatKruppgunsarethenewgods。Yet—Idon’tknow。IdonotquitebelieveinIslambecomingabacknumber。’
　　’Lookatitinanotherway，’hewenton。’ifitwereEnverandGermanyalonedraggingTurkeyintoaEuropeanwarforpurposesthatnoTurkcaredarushabout，wemightexpecttofindtheregulararmyobedient，andConstantinople。Butintheprovinces，whereIslamisstrong，therewouldbetrouble。Manyofuscountedonthat。Butwehavebeendisappointed。TheSyrianarmyisasfanaticalasthehordesoftheMahdi。TheSenussihavetakenahandinthegame。ThePersianMoslemsarethreateningtrouble。ThereisadrywindblowingthroughtheEast，andtheparchedgrasseswaitthespark。AndthatwindisblowingtowardstheIndianborder。
　　Whencecomesthatwind，thinkyou？’
　　SirWalterhadloweredhisvoiceandwasspeakingveryslowanddistinct。Icouldheartheraindrippingfromtheeavesofthewindow，andfaroffthehootoftaxisinWhitehall。
　　’Haveyouanexplanation，Hannay？’heaskedagain。
　　’ItlooksasifIslamhadabiggerhandinthethingthanwethought，’Isaid。’Ifancyreligionistheonlythingtoknitupsuchascatteredempire。’
　　’Youareright，’hesaid。’Youmustberight。WehavelaughedattheHolyWar，thejehadthatoldVonderGoltzprophesied。ButI
　　believethatstupidoldmanwiththebigspectacleswasright。Thereisajehadpreparing。Thequestionis，How？’
　　’I’mhangedifIknow，’Isaid;’butI’llbetitwon’tbedonebyapackofstoutGermanofficersin_pickelhaubes。Ifancyyoucan’tmanufactureHolyWarsoutofKruppgunsaloneandafewstaffofficersandabattlecruiserwithherboilersburst。’
　　’Agreed。Theyarenotfools，howevermuchwetrytopersuadeourselvesofthecontrary。Butsupposingtheyhadgotsometremendoussacredsanction—someholything，somebookorgospelorsomenewprophetfromthedesert，somethingwhichwouldcastoverthewholeuglymechanismofGermanwartheglamouroftheoldtorrentialraidswhichcrumpledtheByzantineEmpireandshookthewallsofVienna？Islamisafightingcreed，andthemullahstillstandsinthepulpitwiththeKoraninonehandandadrawnswordintheother。SupposingthereissomeArkoftheCovenantwhichwillmaddentheremotestMoslempeasantwithdreamsofParadise？
　　Whatthen，myfriend？’
　　’Thentherewillbehellletlooseinthosepartsprettysoon。’
　　’Hellwhichmayspread。BeyondPersia，remember，liesIndia。’
　　’Youkeeptosuppositions。Howmuchdoyouknow？’Iasked。
　　’Verylittle，exceptthefact。Butthefactisbeyonddispute。Ihavereportsfromagentseverywhere—pedlarsinSouthRussia，Afghanhorse—dealers，Turcomanmerchants，pilgrimsontheroadtoMecca，sheikhsinNorthAfrica，sailorsontheBlackSeacoasters，sheep—
　　skinnedMongols，Hindufakirs，GreektradersintheGulf，aswellasrespectableConsulswhousecyphers。Theytellthesamestory。
　　TheEastiswaitingforarevelation。Ithasbeenpromisedone。
　　Somestar—man，prophecy，ortrinket—iscomingoutoftheWest。
　　TheGermansknow，andthatisthecardwithwhichtheyaregoingtoastonishtheworld。’
　　’Andthemissionyouspokeofformeistogoandfindout？’
　　Henoddedgravely。’Thatisthecrazyandimpossiblemission。’
　　’Tellmeonething，SirWalter，’Isaid。’Iknowitisthefashioninthiscountryifamanhasaspecialknowledgetosethimtosomejobexactlytheopposite。IknowallaboutDamaraland，butinsteadofbeingputonBotha’sstaff，asIappliedtobe，IwaskeptinHampshiremudtillthecampaigninGermanSouthWestAfricawasover。IknowamanwhocouldpassasanArab，butdoyouthinktheywouldsendhimtotheEast？Theylefthiminmybattalion—aluckythingforme，forhesavedmylifeatLoos。I
　　knowthefashion，butisn’tthisjustcarryingitabittoofar？TheremustbethousandsofmenwhohavespentyearsintheEastandtalkanylanguage。They’rethefellowsforthisjob。IneversawaTurkinmylifeexceptachapwhodidwrestlingturnsinashowatKimberley。You’vepickedaboutthemostuselessmanonearth。’
　　’You’vebeenaminingengineer，Hannay，’SirWaltersaid。’IfyouwantedamantoprospectforgoldinBarotselandyouwouldofcourseliketogetonewhoknewthecountryandthepeopleandthelanguage。Butthefirstthingyouwouldrequireinhimwouldbethathehadanoseforfindinggoldandknewhisbusiness。Thatisthepositionnow。Ibelievethatyouhaveanoseforfindingoutwhatourenemiestrytohide。Iknowthatyouarebraveandcoolandresourceful。ThatiswhyItellyouthestory。Besides……’
　　HeunrolledabigmapofEuropeonthewall。
　　’Ican’ttellyouwhereyou’llgetonthetrackofthesecret，butI
　　canputalimittothequest。Youwon’tfinditeastoftheBosporus—notyet。ItisstillinEurope。ItmaybeinConstantinople，orinThrace。Itmaybefartherwest。Butitismovingeastwards。IfyouareintimeyoumaycutintoitsmarchtoConstantinople。ThatmuchIcantellyou。ThesecretisknowninGermany，too，tothosewhomitconcerns。ItisinEuropethattheseekermustsearch—atpresent。’
　　’Tellmemore，’Isaid。’Youcangivemenodetailsandnoinstructions。ObviouslyyoucangivemenohelpifIcometogrief。’
　　Henodded。’Youwouldbebeyondthepale。’
　　’Yougivemeafreehand。’
　　’Absolutely。Youcanhavewhatmoneyyoulike，andyoucangetwhathelpyoulike。Youcanfollowanyplanyoufancy，andgoanywhereyouthinkfruitful。Wecangivenodirections。’
　　’Onelastquestion。Yousayitisimportant。Tellmejusthowimportant。’
　　’Itislifeanddeath，’hesaidsolemnly。’Icanputitnohigherandnolower。Onceweknowwhatisthemenacewecanmeetit。Aslongasweareinthedarkitworksuncheckedandwemaybetoolate。ThewarmustbewonorlostinEurope。Yes;butiftheEastblazesup，oureffortwillbedistractedfromEuropeandthegreat_coupmayfail。Thestakesarenolessthanvictoryanddefeat，Hannay。’
　　Igotoutofmychairandwalkedtothewindow。Itwasadifficultmomentinmylife。Iwashappyinmysoldiering;aboveall，happyinthecompanyofmybrotherofficers。Iwasaskedtogooffintotheenemy’slandsonaquestforwhichIbelievedIwasmanifestlyunfitted—abusinessoflonelydaysandnights，ofnerve—
　　rackingstrain，ofdeadlyperilshroudingmelikeagarment。LookingoutonthebleakweatherIshivered。Itwastoogrimabusiness，tooinhumanforfleshandblood。ButSirWalterhadcalleditamatteroflifeanddeath，andIhadtoldhimthatIwasouttoservemycountry。Hecouldnotgivemeorders，butwasInotunderorders—
　　higherordersthanmyBrigadier’s？Ithoughtmyselfincompetent，butcleverermenthanmethoughtmecompetent，oratleastcompetentenoughforasportingchance。IknewinmysoulthatifIdeclinedIshouldneverbequiteatpeaceintheworldagain。AndyetSirWalterhadcalledtheschememadness，andsaidthathehimselfwouldneverhaveaccepted。
　　Howdoesonemakeagreatdecision？IswearthatwhenIturnedroundtospeakImeanttorefuse。ButmyanswerwasYes，andI
　　hadcrossedtheRubicon。Myvoicesoundedcrackedandfaraway。
　　SirWaltershookhandswithmeandhiseyesblinkedalittle。
　　’Imaybesendingyoutoyourdeath，Hannay—GoodGod，whatadamnedtask—mistressdutyis！—Ifso，Ishallbehauntedwithregrets，butyouwillneverrepent。Havenofearofthat。Youhavechosentheroughestroad，butitgoesstraighttothehill—tops。’
　　Hehandedmethehalf—sheetofnote—paper。Onitwerewrittenthreewords—’_Kasredin’，’_cancer’，and’_v。_I。’
　　’Thatistheonlycluewepossess，’hesaid。’Icannotconstrueit，butIcantellyouthestory。WehavehadouragentsworkinginPersiaandMesopotamiaforyears—mostlyyoungofficersoftheIndianArmy。Theycarrytheirlivesintheirhands，andnowandthenonedisappears，andthesewersofBaghdadmighttellatale。
　　Buttheyfindoutmanythings，andtheycountthegameworththecandle。TheyhavetoldusofthestarrisingintheWest，buttheycouldgiveusnodetails。Allbutone—thebestofthem。HehadbeenworkingbetweenMosulandthePersianfrontierasamuleteer，andhadbeensouthintotheBakhtiarihills。Hefoundoutsomething，buthisenemiesknewthatheknewandhewaspursued。
　　Threemonthsago，justbeforeKut，hestaggeredintoDelamain’scampwithtenbulletholesinhimandaknifeslashonhisforehead。
　　Hemumbledhisname，butbeyondthatandthefactthattherewasaSomethingcomingfromtheWesthetoldthemnothing。Hediedintenminutes。Theyfoundthispaperonhim，andsincehecriedouttheword"Kasredin"inhislastmoments，itmusthavehadsomethingtodowithhisquest。Itisforyoutofindoutifithasanymeaning。’
　　Ifoldeditupandplaceditinmypocket—book。
　　’Whatagreatfellow！Whatwashisname？’Iasked。
　　SirWalterdidnotansweratonce。Hewaslookingoutofthewindow。’Hisname，’hesaidatlast，’wasHarryBullivant。Hewasmyson。Godresthisbravesoul！’
　　CHAPTERTWO
　　TheGatheringoftheMissionariesIwroteoutawiretoSandy，askinghimtocomeupbythetwo—fifteentrainandmeetmeatmyflat。
　　’Ihavechosenmycolleague，’Isaid。
　　’BillyArbuthnot’sboy？HisfatherwasatHarrowwithme。I
　　knowthefellow—Harryusedtobringhimdowntofish—tallish，withalean，high—bonedfaceandapairofbrowneyeslikeaprettygirl’s。Iknowhisrecord，too。There’sagooddealabouthiminthisoffice。HerodethroughYemen，whichnowhitemaneverdidbefore。TheArabslethimpass，fortheythoughthimstarkmadandarguedthatthehandofAllahwasheavyenoughonhimwithouttheirefforts。He’sblood—brothertoeverykindofAlbanianbandit。
　　AlsoheusedtotakeahandinTurkishpolitics，andgotahugereputation。SomeEnglishmanwasoncecomplainingtooldMahmoudShevkataboutthescarcityofstatesmeninWesternEurope，andMahmoudbrokeinwith，"HaveyounottheHonourableArbuthnot？"Yousayhe’sinyourbattalion。Iwaswonderingwhathadbecomeofhim，forwetriedtogetholdofhimhere，buthehadleftnoaddress。LudovickArbuthnot—yes，that’stheman。
　　BurieddeepinthecommissionedranksoftheNewArmy？Well，we’llgethimoutprettyquick！’
　　’IknewhehadknockedabouttheEast，butIdidn’tknowhewasthatkindofswell。Sandy’snotthechaptobuckabouthimself。’
　　’Hewouldn’t，’saidSirWalter。’HehadalwaysamorethanOrientalreticence。I’vegotanothercolleagueforyou，ifyoulikehim。’
　　Helookedathiswatch。’YoucangettotheSavoyGrillRoominfiveminutesinataxi—cab。GoinfromtheStrand，turntoyourleft，andyouwillseeinthealcoveontheright—handsideatablewithonelargeAmericangentlemansittingatit。Theyknowhimthere，sohewillhavethetabletohimself。Iwantyoutogoandsitdownbesidehim。Sayyoucomefromme。HisnameisMrJohnScantleburyBlenkiron，nowacitizenofBoston，Mass。，butbornandraisedinIndiana。Putthisenvelopeinyourpocket，butdon’treaditscontentstillyouhavetalkedtohim。IwantyoutoformyourownopinionaboutMrBlenkiron。’
　　IwentoutoftheForeignOfficeinasmuddledaframeofmindasanydiplomatistwhoeverleftitsportals。Iwasmostdesperatelydepressed。Tobeginwith，Iwasinacompletefunk。IhadalwaysthoughtIwasaboutasbraveastheaverageman，butthere’scourageandcourage，andminewascertainlynottheimpassivekind。StickmedowninatrenchandIcouldstandbeingshotataswellasmostpeople，andmybloodcouldgethotifitweregivenachance。ButIthinkIhadtoomuchimagination。Icouldn’tshakeoffthebeastlyforecaststhatkeptcrowdingmymind。
　　Inaboutafortnight，Icalculated，Iwouldbedead。Shotasaspy—arottensortofending！AtthemomentIwasquitesafe，lookingforataxiinthemiddleofWhitehall，butthesweatbrokeonmyforehead。IfeltasIhadfeltinmyadventurebeforethewar。Butthiswasfarworse，foritwasmorecold—bloodedandpremeditated，andIdidn’tseemtohaveevenasportingchance。Iwatchedthefiguresinkhakipassingonthepavement，andthoughtwhatanicesafeprospecttheyhadcomparedtomine。Yes，evenifnextweektheywereintheHohenzollern，ortheHairpintrenchattheQuarries，orthatuglyangleatHooge。IwonderedwhyIhadnotbeenhappierthatmorningbeforeIgotthatinfernalwire。SuddenlyallthetrivialitiesofEnglishlifeseemedtomeinexpressiblydearandterriblyfaraway。IwasveryangrywithBullivant，tillI
　　rememberedhowfairhehadbeen。Myfatewasmyownchoosing。
　　WhenIwashuntingtheBlackStonetheinterestoftheproblemhadhelpedtokeepmegoing。ButnowIcouldseenoproblem。MymindhadnothingtoworkonbutthreewordsofgibberishonasheetofpaperandamysteryofwhichSirWalterhadbeenconvinced，buttowhichhecouldn’tgiveaname。ItwaslikethestoryIhadreadofSaintTeresasettingoffattheageoftenwithhersmallbrothertoconverttheMoors。Isathuddledinthetaxiwithmychinonmybreast，wishingthatIhadlostalegatLoosandbeencomfortablytuckedawayfortherestofthewar。
　　SureenoughIfoundmymanintheGrillRoom。Therehewas，feedingsolemnly，withanapkintuckedunderhischin。Hewasabigfellowwithafat，sallow，clean—shavenface。IdisregardedthehoveringwaiterandpulledupachairbesidetheAmericanatthelittletable。Heturnedonmeapairoffullsleepyeyes，likearuminatingox。
　　’MrBlenkiron？’Iasked。
　　’Youhavemyname，Sir，’hesaid。’MrJohnScantleburyBlenkiron。IwouldwishyougoodmorningifIsawanythinggoodinthisdarnedBritishweather。’
　　’IcomefromSirWalterBullivant，’Isaid，speakinglow。
　　’So？’saidhe。’SirWalterisaverygoodfriendofmine。Pleasedtomeetyou，Mr—orIguessit’sColonel—’
　　’Hannay，’Isaid;’MajorHannay。’IwaswonderingwhatthissleepyYankeecoulddotohelpme。
　　’Allowmetoofferyouluncheon，Major。Here，waiter，bringthecarte。IregretthatIcannotjoinyouinsamplingtheeffortsofthemanagementofthisho—tel。Isuffer，Sir，fromdyspepsia—duo—denaldyspepsia。Itgetsmetwohoursafteramealandgivesmehelljustbelowthebreast—bone。SoIamobligedtoadoptadiet。Mynourishmentisfish，Sir，andboiledmilkandalittledrytoast。
　　It’samelancholydescentfromthedayswhenIcoulddojusticetoalunchatSherry’sandsupoffoyster—crabsanddevilledbones。’Hesighedfromthedepthsofhiscapaciousframe。
　　Iorderedanomeletteandachop，andtookanotherlookathim。
　　Thelargeeyesseemedtobegazingsteadilyatmewithoutseeingme。Theywereasvacantasanabstractedchild’s;butIhadanuncomfortablefeelingthattheysawmorethanmine。
　　’Youhavebeenfighting，Major？TheBattleofLoos？Well，I
　　guessthatmusthavebeensomebattle。WeinAmericarespectthefightingoftheBritishsoldier，butwedon’tquitecatchontothede—vicesoftheBritishGenerals。Weopinethatthereismorebellicositythanscienceamongyourhighbrows。Thatisso？MyfatherfoughtatChattanooga，buttheseeyeshaveseennothinggorierthanaPresidentialelection。Say，isthereanywayIcouldbeletintoasceneofrealbloodshed？’
　　Hisserioustonemademelaugh。’Thereareplentyofyourcountrymeninthepresentshow，’Isaid。’TheFrenchForeignLegionisfullofyoungAmericans，andsoisourArmyServiceCorps。HalfthechauffeursyoustrikeinFranceseemtocomefromtheStates。’
　　Hesighed。’Ididthinkofsomebelligerentstuntayearback。ButIreflectedthatthegoodGodhadnotgivenJohnS。Blenkironthekindofmartialfigurethatwoulddocredittothetentedfield。AlsoIrecollectedthatweAmericanswerenootrals—benevolentnootrals—andthatitdidnotbecomemetobebuttingintothestrugglesoftheeffetemonarchiesofEurope。SoIstoppedathome。Itwasabigrenunciation，Major，forIwaslyingsickduringthePhilippinesbusiness，andIhaveneverseenthelawlesspassionsofmenletlooseonabattlefield。And，asastoodentofhumanity，Ihankeredfortheexperience。’
　　’Whathaveyoubeendoing？’Iasked。Thecalmgentlemanhadbeguntointerestme。
　　’Waal，’hesaid，’Ijustwaited。TheLordhasblessedmewithmoneytoburn，soIdidn’tneedtogoscramblinglikeawildcatforwarcontracts。ButIreckonedIwouldgetletintothegamesomehow，andIwas。Beinganootral，Iwasinanadvantageouspositiontotakeahand。Ihadaprettyhectictimeforawhile，andthenI
　　reckonedIwouldleaveGod’scountryandseewhatwasdoinginEurope。Ihavecountedmyselfoutofthebloodshedbusiness，but，asyourpoetsings，peacehasitsvictoriesnotlessrenownedthanwar，andIreckonthatmeansthatanootralcanhaveashareinascrapaswellasabelligerent。’
　　’That’sthebestkindofneutralityI’veeverheardof，’Isaid。