"Thank God!" answered she; and I hung up the receiver.
Well, in my jubilation I had forgotten to ask for leave to run up and get kit. But leave was no sooner asked for than given. From Victoria that evening I taxi'd straight to Jermyn Street, where I found Jephson, warned by telegram, elate at the prospect of soldiering. I was able, after a talk with my Colonel, to inform him that he had also a prospect of coming along as my servant, and this lifted him to the seventh heaven. Then I went out, picked up a dinner at Arthur's, and walked on to Upper Brook Street.
In those days London had not started to shroud its lamps. One stood a few paces short of the porch of Number 105; and as I turned into Brook Street I saw a man come hastily down the steps, and enter a taxi anchored there. The butler followed and closed the door upon him. The night had begun to drizzle, and there was a sough of sou'westerly wind in the air. I turned up the collar of my service overcoat and, as the taxi passed, walked pretty briskly forward and intercepted Mrs. Denistoun's butler, who, after a stare at the retreating vehicle, had reascended the steps and was about to close the door. Recognising me by the light of the porch lamp, he opened the door wide, and full upon the figure of Constantia, standing in the hallway. She gave a little gasp and came to me, holding out her hand.
"You were always as good as your word, Roddy. Come into the library. Where are you sleeping, by the way?"
"In my flat," said I. "Jephson will not be called up for a day or two. He has a fire lit, and will sit up for me."
"He may have to sit up late," replied Constantia. "Mamma will be down presently.… There has been something of a scene, and she is upset. You saw Mr. Farrell go away, just now? You must have passed him, almost at the door."
"I did," said I, "though I don't know if he recognised me. Child, what is the matter?"
"Child?" echoed Constantia. "It does me good to be called that, for that's exactly how I am feeling.… He had no right—no right—" and there she broke off.
"Do you mean," said I, "that he put that announcement in the Times having no right to do it?"
"I dare say," moaned Constantia, waving her arms feebly, pathetically, "he understood more than I meant him to."