Part 38 (2/2)

Monck turned and directly faced him. ”I am compelled to refuse,” he said.

There was a brief silence. Colonel Mansfield was looking at him as if he would read him through and through. But no stone mask could have been more impenetrable than Monck's face as he stood stiffly waiting.

When the Colonel spoke again it was wholly without emotion. His tones fell cold and measured. ”You obtained that leave upon false pretences?

You had no urgent business?”

Monck answered him with machine-like accuracy. ”Yes, sir, I deceived you. But my business was urgent nevertheless. That is my only excuse.”

”Was it in connection with some Secret Service requirement?” The Colonel's tone was strictly judicial now; he had banished all feeling from face and manner.

And again, like a machine, Monck made his curt reply. ”No, sir.”

”There was nothing official about it?”

”Nothing.”

”I am to conclude then--” again the rasp was in the Colonel's voice, but it sounded harsher now--”that the business upon which you absented yourself was strictly private and personal?”

”It was, sir.”

The commanding officer's brows contracted heavily. ”Am I also to conclude that it was something of a dishonourable nature?” he asked.

Monck made a scarcely perceptible movement. It was as if the point had somehow pierced his armour. But he covered it instantly. ”Your deductions are of your own making, sir,” he said.

”I see.” The Colonel's tone was openly harsh. ”You are ashamed to tell me the truth. Well, Captain Monck, I cannot compel you to do so. But it would have been better for your own sake if you had taken up a less reticent att.i.tude. Of course I realize that there are certain shameful occasions regarding which any man must keep silence, but I had not thought you capable of having a secret of that description to guard. I think it very doubtful if General Ba.s.sett will now require your services upon his staff.”

He paused. Monck's hands were clenched and rigid, but he spoke no word, and gave no other sign of emotion.

”You have nothing to say to me?” the Colonel asked, and for a moment the official air was gone. He spoke as one man to another and almost with entreaty.

But, ”Nothing, sir,” said Monck firmly, and the moment pa.s.sed.

The Colonel turned aside. ”Very well,” he said briefly.

Monck swung round and opened the door for him, standing as stiffly as a soldier on parade.

He went out without a backward glance.

CHAPTER VIII

THE WRATH OF THE G.o.dS

It was nearly an hour later that Everard Monck and his brother left the mess together and walked back through the dripping darkness to the bungalow on the hill overlooking the river. The rush of the swollen stream became audible as they drew near. The sound of it was inexpressibly wild and desolate.

”It's an interesting country,” remarked Bernard, breaking a silence. ”I don't wonder she has got hold of you, my son. What does your wife think of it? Is she too caught in the toils?”

<script>