@@@@keep you as short a time as possible. In fact, it is
@@@@quite probable that you will be back within an hour.
@@@@@@@@"Very truly yours,
@@@@@@@@@@@@"Edmund Haworth."

She looked down at the letter with feelings of surprise
and of annoyance. Uncaring of Howse's discreet
presence, she read it aloud. "It's very mysterious and
queer, isn't it? But I'm afraid I shall have to go."

"Yes, of course you will. It would have been better
under the circumstances for the Dean to have told you
what they want to see you about."

In the old days, Major Guthrie had never shared
Mrs. Otway's admiration for Dr. Haworth, and now
he felt rather sharply disturbed. The Home Office?
The words bore a more ominous sound to him than
they did, fortunately, to her. Was it possible that she
had been communicating, in secret, with some of her
German friends? He rose from the bench on which
they had been sitting: "Is the gentleman in the motor,
Howse?"

"Yes, sir. He wouldn't come in."

"Go and tell him that we are coming at once."

And then, after a moment, he said quietly, "I'm
coming, too."

"Oh, but----" she exclaimed.

"I don't choose to have my wife's presence commanded
by the Dean of Witanbury, or even, if it comes
to that, by the Home Office."

She seized his arm, and pressed close to him. "I do
believe," she cried, "that you suspect me of having got
into a scrape! Indeed, indeed I have done nothing!"
She was smiling, though moved almost to tears by the

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v?