The captain turned it over. "It is as much as my place is worth, but
last evening one of the members was talking fierce about him."
"Yes, so I heard," said Mr. Harvey, who had heard nothing of the kind
and who, not for an instant, had expected to tumble on a fierce-talking
member. "I heard his name too. It's--er----"
"Lennox," the captain put in.
"Lennox, yes, that's it, and just to see how my account tallies with
yours, what did he say?"
"He said he'd do for him. I could have laughed."
"It was funny, I laughed myself, and about a woman, wasn't it?"
"I don't know. But he was engaged to be married. I saw it in the
papers."
"And this young Paliser butted in?"
"I couldn't say. But he threw up his business and sat around and last
night he was going to do for him."
"At the opera?"
"He was talking random-like. He had just had a B. and S. I didn't hear
anything about the opera. He wasn't got up for it. Just a business suit.
But, Lord bless you, he didn't do it. He isn't that kind. Nice,
free-handed feller."
"No, of course not. I wouldn't believe it, not if you told me so. Let me
see. Where did I hear he lives?"
"I don't rightly know. Somewhere in the neighbourhood."
"So I thought and his first name is?"
"I've forgotten. Hold on! Keith! That's it. Keith Lennox. Are you going
to see him? P'raps he can set you straight."
"P'raps he can."
"But don't let on about me, my friend."
"Not on your life," replied his friend, who added: "Where's your hat?"
"My hat!" Mr. Johnson surprisedly exclaimed.
Affably that friend of his nodded. "Ever been to Headquarters? Well,
you're going there now!"
Then, presently, the captain and his friend ascended a stairway, down
which, a few hours later, hoarse voices came.
"Extra! Extra!"