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shimmered unceasingly, causing annoyance to all.
    Patrons of the smoking-room choked over their beer as he shimmered in through the doorway, gazed about him with haggard eyes, shimmered out again and then - sometimes only a few minutes later - shimmered back and stood gazing once more. Old ladies, knitting in the drawing-room, sensed his silent approach and dropped stitches. Girls in deck-chairs started as his shadow fell upon their books and, looking up, recoiled from the stare of his snail-like eyes. There seemed to be no getting away from him.
    For Monty was looking for Gertrude Butterwick, and it was his intention to explore every avenue. Only when the vessel lay motionless outside Cherbourg harbour did he abate the nuisance. By that time, his shoes had begun to hurt him, and he went to his state-room to lie down on the bunk. This, he felt, would enable him not only to take the weight off his feet but to do some constructive thinking. And if ever a situation called for constructive thinking, this did.
    His feelings on opening the door and finding the bunk occupied by Reggie Tennyson were mixed. There was regret, for his feet were now exceedingly painful and he wanted that bunk himself; joy, because he presumed that the other would not be there unless he had come bearing news.
    This, however, proved an erroneous theory. Reggie had no news. His eager 'Well?' produced merely the information that his friend had not so much as set eyes on Gertrude since arriving on board.
    'I've looked everywhere for he r’ said Reggie, anxious to remove any idea that he had been loafing on his errand of mercy, 'but she seems to have gone to earth in some secret dug-out.'
    There was a pause. Then, just as Monty was about to suggest that if Reggie could spare the bunk he would be glad to have it, his attention was diverted by the sight of an alien suitcase on the floor.
    'What's that?' he asked, surprised.
    Reggie sat up. His manner betrayed a certain diffidence.
    'Oh, that?' he said. 'I was wondering when you would notice it. That's mine’ ' 'Yours?'
    ‘Yes. Monty’ said Reggie, speaking with some urgency, 'do you recollect what we were saying in the train? ’ 'About Gertrude? ’
    ‘ Not about Gertrude. About you and me. About what extraordinarily good pals we had always been, so that if there ever happened to be a moment when one of us could do the square thing by the other he wouldn't hesitate. You said, if you remember, that if you had a chance of doing me a good turn you would spring to the task?'
    'Of course. ’
    ‘ Like a panther, if I recall? ’ ‘ Absolutely’
    ‘Right’ said Reggie. 'Well, now Is your time. This is where you do your stuff. I' ve changed state-rooms with you’
    Monty stared. His intelligence was a little clouded from long meditation.
    'Changed state-rooms?'
    ‘ Yes. I've had your things shifted down to mine. ’ ‘ What on earth for?'
    'It had to be done, old boy. The fact of the matter is, a rather awkward situation has arisen.'
    Reggie made himself comfortable amongst the pillows. Monty took off his shoes. The relief thus obtained put him in broad-minded mood. Twiddling his released toes, he told himself that Reggie would not have done this thing without some good reason. It remained only to elicit this reason.
    'How do you mean, an awkward situation has arisen?'
    'I will tell you. Before doing so, however, let us relax. Have you such a thing as a stinker?'
    'Here you are.'
    'And a match?'
    'Here you are.'
    'Thanks,' said Reggie. 'Well,' he proceeded, puffing, 'it is like this. You know Ambrose?' 'Your brother Ambrose? ’ 'My brother Ambrose.'
    'Oh, yes, fairly well. We were up at Oxford together, and we see a certain amount of one another...'
    'Did you know he was on board this ship? ’
    'Ambrose? But he's at the Admiralty.'
    'No. He's not. That's the whole point. I was trying to tell you in the train, but you wouldn't listen. At this hour, as you say, Ambrose ought to be at the Admiralty,