"Yes. I think we're all - how does one put it? - under observation. They more or less hinted that we'd all better not leave the house. But I was determined to see you."

Her small square chin shot out pugnaciously.

"I got out of the bathroom window and shinned down the water pipe."

"Darling!"

"But the police are very efficient. And of course there was the telegram I sent you.

Well - never mind - we're here -together… But from now on, we've both got to play a lone hand."

She paused and then added:

"Unfortunately - there's no doubt -about our loving each other."

"No doubt at all," I said. "And don't say unfortunately. You and I have survived a world war, we've had plenty of near escapes from sudden death - and I don't see why the sudden death of just one old man - how old was he, by the way?"

"Eighty five."

"Of course. It was in the Times. If you | ask me, he just died of old age, and any self-respecting G.P. would accept the fact."

"If you'd known my grandfather," said Sophia, "you'd have been surprised at his dying of anything!"

Three

I'd always taken a certain amount of interest in my father's police work, but nothing had prepared me for the moment when I should come to take a direct and personal interest in it.

I had not yet seen the Old Man. He had been out when I arrived, and after a bath, a shave and a change I had gone out to meet Sophia. When I returned to the house, however. Glover told me that he was in his study.

He was at his desk, frowning over a lot of papers. He jumped up when I came in.

"Charles! Well, well, it's been a long time."

Our meeting, after five years of war, would have disappointed a Frenchman.

Actually all the emotion of reunion was there all right. The Old Man and I are very fond of each other, and we understand each other pretty well.