of work which Mr. Reynolds was now doing for his
country has to be very human underneath his cloak
of official reserve, or he would not be able to carry
out his often delicate, as well as difficult, duties.

He followed them outside the Council House.
Clouds had gathered, and it was beginning to rain,
so he ordered his car to be closed.

"Mr. Reynolds," cried Mrs. Guthrie suddenly, "you
won't let them be _too_ unkind to my poor old Anna,
will you?"

"Indeed, no one will be unkind to her," he said.
"She's only been a tool after all -- poor old woman.
No doubt there will be a deportation order, and she
will be sent back to Germany."

"Remember that you are to draw on me if any
money is required on her behalf," cried out Major
Guthrie, fixing his sightless eyes on the place where
he supposed the other man to be.

"Yes, yes -- I quite understand that! But we've
found out that the old woman has plenty of money.
It is one of the things that make us believe that she
knows more than she pretends to do."

He waved his hand as they drove off. Somehow
he felt a better man, a better Englishman, for having
met these two people.

There was very little light in the closed motor, but
if it had been open for all the world to see, Mary
Guthrie would not have minded, so happy, so secure
did she feel now that her husband's arm was round
her.

She put up her face close to his ear: "Oh, Alick,"

[[340]]

p339 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p340w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p341

v?