“Of course you may,” I said as I shook hands with him, put him into an easy chair and handed him the cigarettes. “Why, did you think you wouldn’t catch me?” He lit a cigarette and I saw that his hand shook badly. “Eh? Oh, you’re such a busy man, aren’t you?” His hesitancy and a note in his voice suggested nervousness, as if he had been momentarily at a loss how to answer. “Not too busy for a chat with you at any time, lieutenant.” I spoke cordially because I wished to be friendly. “Thanks,” he said, adding after a puff or two: “You look confoundedly fit.” “Not much the matter, I’m glad to say.” “No, I should think not, indeed.” Another pause followed and he put his eyeglass in position, glanced at me and then round the room, and let it fall again. “I suppose not.” “Will you have a pick-me-up?” I asked. It struck me he had been looking about for one. “Cognac,” he replied with a nod. I rang for my servant, Bryant, and mixed a brandy and soda, which Vasco drank eagerly. “Had a hot night of it,” he murmured with one of his inane grins as he set the empty glass down. “Lost?” “I always do, curse the luck,” he answered, and pouring himself out about a wine-glassful of brandy he gulped it down. “Hair of the dog, you know,” he added, smacking his lips. The spirit stimulated him. “Better luck next time;” and he laughed, the frown left his face, and he lolled back smoking with an air of indifference real or assumed. “So you’re off, eh? Going in your yacht?” “Off? Where to?” “Home, I suppose. That’s what I meant about catching you.” “I am not going away.” “Not? Why Sampayo----” he stopped suddenly. “No, it wasn’t Sampayo of course--but I heard you were going last night,” he said, evidently confused by his first slip. My interest awoke in an instant. If Sampayo had sent him to me, it was probably to learn the issue of the previous night’s scheme. “No no. I shan’t be able to get away for a long time to come.” “Then I wonder why the deuce--I’m awfully glad to hear it. Then you won’t be taking your boat away?” “Of course not. But I’m afraid the weather yesterday made your trip in her rather unpleasant.” “Not a bit of it. The fact is I--I came to ask you a favour. I wonder if you’d mind lending her to me for a day. As a matter of fact I want to give some of the fellows of my regiment a bit of an outing, and I should like to take ’em out in her.” He said all this with the air of one repeating a lesson and very much afraid of forgetting it. “My dear lieutenant, you can have her and welcome. Give me a couple of days’ notice, that’s all.” “Thanks. I’m afraid you’ll think it cool of me.” “Not cool of _you_ at all; but I think Major Sampayo himself might have asked, instead of worrying you to do it.” He sat bolt upright and stared at me. “I say, how the deuce did you know?” he cried, astonishment shaking all the pretence out of him.