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all the commonplace solidity of his wisdom. The gold chain glittered on his breast. He clutched a smouldering pipe.
    I extended my hand to him warmly and he seemed surprised, but did respond heartily enough in the end, with a faint smile of superior knowledge which cut my thanks short as if with a knife. I don’t think that more than one word came out. And even for that one, judging by the temperature of my face, I had blushed as if for a bad action. Assuming a detached tone, I wondered how on earth he had managed to spot the little underhand game that had been going on.
    He murmured complacently that there were but few things done in the town that he could not see the inside of. And as to this house, he had been using it off and on for nearly ten years. Nothing that went on in it could escape his great experience. It had been no trouble to him. No trouble at all.
    Then in his quiet, thick tone he wanted to know if I had complained formally of the steward’s action.
    I said that I hadn’t—though, indeed, it was not for want of opportunity. Captain Ellis had gone for me bald-headed in a most ridiculous fashion for being out of the way when wanted.
    â€œFunny old gentleman,” interjected Captain Giles. “What did you say to that?”
    â€œI said simply that I came along the very moment I heard of his message. Nothing more. I didn’t want to hurt the steward. I would scorn to harm such an object. No. I made no complaint, but I believe he thinks I’ve done so. Let him think. He’s got a fright he won’t forget in a hurry, for Captain Ellis would kick him out into the middle of Asia. . . .”
    â€œWait a moment,” said Captain Giles, leaving me suddenly. I sat down feeling very tired, mostly in my head. Before I could start a train of thought he stood again before me, murmuring the excuse that he had to go and put the fellow’s mind at ease.
    I looked up with surprise. But in reality I was indifferent. He explained that he had found the steward lying face downward on the horsehair sofa. He was all right now.
    â€œHe would not have died of fright,” I said contemptuously.
    â€œNo. But he might have taken an overdose out of one of them little bottles he keeps in his room,” Captain Giles argued seriously. “The confounded fool has tried to poison himself once—a few years ago.”
    â€œReally,” I said without emotion. “He doesn’t seem very fit to live, anyhow.”
    â€œAs to that, it may be said of a good many.”
    â€œDon’t exaggerate like this!” I protested, laughing irritably. “But I wonder what this part of the world would do if you were to leave off looking after it, Captain Giles? Here you have got me a command and saved the steward’s life in one afternoon. Though why you should have taken all that interest in either of us is more than I can understand.”
    Captain Giles remained silent for a minute. Then gravely:
    â€œHe’s not a bad steward really. He can find a good cook, at any rate. And, what’s more, he can keep him when found. I remember the cooks we had here before his time! . . .”
    I must have made a movement of impatience, because he interrupted himself with an apology for keeping me yarning there, while no doubt I needed all my time to get ready.
    What I really needed was to be alone for a bit. I seized this opening hastily. My bedroom was a quiet refuge in an apparently uninhabited wing of the building. Having absolutely nothing to do (for I had not unpacked my things), I sat down on the bed and abandoned myself to the influences of the hour. To the unexpected influences. . . .
    And first I wondered at my state of mind. Why was I not more surprised? Why? Here I was, invested with a command in the twinkling of an eye, not in the common course of human affairs, but more as if by enchantment. I ought to have been lost in astonishment. But I wasn’t. I was very much like