As he looked upon it tears welled up into his eyes. That lock of hair brought back to him memories, bitter and tender memories which he always tried to forget, though in vain. Before him arose a womans face, pale, fair, with eyes of that deep childlike blue which always proclaims purity of soul. He saw her before him in her simple dress of white linen a vision of sweet and perfect beauty. The words she had spoken in her gentle voice seemed once again to fall upon his ears with the music that had so invariably charmed him. He remembered what she had said to him he recollected the whole of that conversation, although years had passed since it had been held. He found it impossible to prevent his thoughts from wandering back to the tender grace of a day that was dead, when, beside the sea, he had for a few hours enjoyed a calm and sunny paradise, which had too quickly changed into a wilderness barren of both roses and angels.
He sighed; and down his cheek there crept a single tear. Then he raised the tiny lock of hair to his lips.
May God cherish her always always, he murmured.
Twice he kissed the lock of hair before, with every sign of reluctance, returning it to the packet and replacing it in the steel drawer. Superstitious persons believe that ill-fortune follows the possession of hair; but Chisholm was never superstitious. This curl, which at rare intervals he was in the habit of taking from its secret hiding-place, always carried his memory back to those brief days when, for the second time in his life, he had experienced perfect happiness. It was an outward and visible sign of a love that had once burned fiercely within two hearts.
He had just locked the safe and hidden it in the usual manner, when Benthall burst into the library, and said in a merry tone of voice:
Ive come just to see what youre doing, old fellow. The gong went half an hour ago and the colonel says hes got a ravenous appetite. The soup will be cold.
He had walked across to the table, and stood beside it ready dressed for dinner.
I oh! I was busy, his host answered. A lot of official correspondence from the Foreign Office, you know things I ought to have seen to this morning instead of shooting. Correspondence always crowds upon me if I go out of town even for a couple of days.
But youve done now havent you? asked his guest, glancing at the littered table.
Just finished. But Im awfully sorry to have kept you fellows waiting. The colonels so infernally prompt at feeding-time. They say at the Junior that he doesnt vary five minutes at dinner once in six months.
Well, come along, old fellow. Dont wait to finish. He seated himself on the edge of the big writing-table while Dudley busied himself in replacing some letters he had taken from the steel despatch-box which accompanied him everywhere.
Smoking a cigarette, and swinging his legs easily, Benthall waited while his host who had pointed out that he could not leave confidential documents open for the servants to pry into straightened his papers, and put them together with the communications littering the table, in the box, afterwards locking it.
Only one was left on the table, the despatch which Lord Stockbridge had ordered him to destroy. This he carried to the fire, lit one corner, and held it until it was all consumed, afterwards destroying the tinder with the poker.
Whats that youre so careful to burn? asked Benthall, interested.
Oh, nothing, my dear Harry nothing, answered the Under-Secretary in a nonchalant manner. Only a despatch.
From Stockbridge, or one of the other Ministers, I suppose?
Yes.
But why did you burn it?
In order that it shouldnt fall into anybody elses hands.
Something very confidential, then?
Yes, something extremely confidential, answered Chisholm. But come along, old fellow, lets go to dinner, or the colonel will never forgive me.
Chapter Eight.
Shows a Politician and a Policy
Dudley Chisholm, with the excuse that his presence was urgently required at the Foreign Office, returned to town by the first train on the following day, leaving the colonel and Benthall to continue their sport. He would probably return in a couple of days, he said, but Lord Stockbridge wished to explain to him the line of policy which he intended to adopt towards France, with a view to lessening the tension between the two nations, and to give him certain instructions as to the conduct of the forthcoming debate in the House.
As both his guests understood that a man holding such a position was liable at any moment to be called up to town, they made the best of their disappointment, wished him good luck when the time came for his departure, and went out with the head-keeper for a days sport in Parnholt Wood.