Treves flashed a suspicious glance at him; there was a questioning expression in his eyes.
"If you accept my offer we can go into details later, and as regards my rank, I—I happen to be leaving the army."
"In that case," said Manton, "I am much obliged to you; the money will be a great boon to me."
"You accept?"
"Like a bird!" smiled Manton. "But there is one thing I would like to ask."
"Well?"
"The terms are generous enough," he said, "but what is to happen to my name; is that to disappear too?"
Bernard Treves lit a cigarette, and looked at him with the expression of one from whose mind has been lifted a heavy burden. He made an expressive gesture with his hand.
"For the time being," he answered, "the name of Sergeant Manton will vanish into thin air."
CHAPTER III