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。