He looked after the great banker and stood for a moment deep in thought.

Then he addressed the hall-porter.
"By-the-bye, Charles," he inquired, "if you ask a non-member to dinner, you have to dine in the strangers' room, I suppose ?" "Certainly, sir," the man replied.

"It is just at the back of the general dining-room." "I suppose an ordinary member couldn't dine in there alone ?" "It is not customary, sir." Surgeon-Major Thomson made his way to the telephone booth.

When he emerged, he interviewed the head-waiter.
"Keep a small table for me in the strangers' room," he ordered.

"I shall require dinner for two." "At what time, sir ?" Major Thomson seemed for a moment deaf.