Your brother-officer belongs to another branch of the family.

That ought to satisfy everybody and no great harm done, what ?" He uttered the last word with a tentative, disarming smile.

He was not quite sure of his man, but it seemed to him that even Monck must see the utter futility of making a disturbance about the affair at this stage.

Matters had gone so far that silence was the only course--silence on his part, a judicious lie or two on the part of Monck.

He did not see how the latter could refuse to render him so small a service.