"
Brooks looked down the long street, quiet and strangely unfamiliar in
the dawning light, and for a moment he hesitated. The letter he held in
his hand crushed up into a shapeless ball. It would make things very
easy. And then--a rush of memories. He swung round and sat down at his
desk, drawing paper and ink towards him.
"DEAR LORD ARRANMORE," he wrote, "I am much obliged to you for the
suggestion contained in your letter, but I regret that its acceptance
would involve the carrying out on my part of certain obligations which I
am not at present prepared to undertake. We will, therefore, if you
please, allow matters to remain on this footing.
"Yours sincerely,
"KINGSTON BROOKS."
Bareheaded he stole out into the street, and breathed freely only when
he heard it drop into the pillar-box. For only he himself knew what
other things went with the rejection of that offer.
He crept up-stairs to lie down for a while, and 'on the way he laughed
softly to himself.
"What a fool she would think me!" he muttered. "What a fool I am!"
PART III
CHAPTER I
AN ARISTOCRATIC RECRUIT
An early spring came with a rush of warm west wind, sunshine, and the
perfume of blossoming flowers.
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