"Why did he come?" I asked.
"The fleet is going out on Friday."
"Aha!" I exclaimed, forgetting my annoyance for the moment.
"So that is settled at last," said Tiel with a satisfied smile.
He happened to turn his smile on Eileen also, and my annoyance returned.
"You dismissed our dear friend Ashington very quickly when you heard me coming," I remarked in no very amiable tone.
Tiel looked at me gravely.
"Belke," he said, "you might quite well have done serious mischief by showing your dislike for Ashington so palpably the other day. Even a man of that sort has feelings. I have soothed them, I am glad to say, but he was not very anxious to meet you again."
"So much the better!" said I. "Traitors are not the usual company a German officer keeps."
"Many of us have to mix with strange company nowadays, Mr Belke," said Eileen.