PROLOGUE
It was a long way from the capital to the coast, and they had been obliged to leave very early in the morning. It had been cool then, but now, although it was not yet midday, the three occupants of the car were suffering from the heat.
The Military Attach was also suffering from the wound which had incapacitated him for further active service. It still caused him, at times, acute pain. He would have thought it unmanly to say so, although it would have secured him sympathy and forbearance. He preferred to vent his misery by bullying his subordinates, being rude to his equals and insolent to his superiors. He had recently arrived at his new post, and was anxious to lose no time in becoming acquainted with his work. He therefore resented bitterly having to spend a whole hot day attending the funeral of a brother officer whom he had never liked.
The Chaplain was equally unhappy. During a residence of several years he had acquired the habits of the country, which did not include long drives over bad roads in the heat of the day. He had put on weight recently, which he regretted, but he had no wish to lose it in the way he seemed likely to do in the next few hours. He was beginning to wonder in what state his collar would be when it came to conducting the service. Not that it would matter much what he looked like or said, he reflected bitterly, as nobody except his two companions would ever see him again or understand a word he was saying.
The third occupant of the car had been looking forward to the days outing, and was determined to enjoy it. The Assistant Military Attach was a very young officer, whose health had caused him to be sent abroad, in the hope that he might benefit from a dry climate. He was well aware of the growing discomfort of his elders, which afforded him a good deal of amusement.
Its getting nice and warm, he said cheerfully, as the Chaplain for the third time mopped his brow. I suggest we stop somewhere and have a drink.
The Chaplain and the Military Attach hesitated. Each was determined to take the opposite line to the other and therefore waited for the other to speak first.
At last the Military Attach said, Theres nothing fit to drink in this damned country, and there arent any decent pubs.
The Chaplain pursed his lips. I think that a glass of cold water would be very refreshing.
As good a way of getting typhoid as any other, I suppose, grunted the Military Attach.
The ordinary water in this district is singularly pure, said the Chaplain. If you wont take my word for it, you can doubtless obtain mineral water.
Well, we should have to order something, said the Military Attach. It would hardly do if a great big British Embassy car drew up outside one of these miserable little inns, and three full-grown men, in their best clothes, jumped out and asked for three glasses of cold water for the good of the house. Remember, these people are neutrals, and we want em to remain so, and not to drive the whole country into the arms of the enemy. Use your imagination, Padre, if youve got any.
The Assistant Military Attach felt that he could accept the argument as qualified assent. May I tell the chauffeur to stop at the next likely place, sir? Ive got a flask of whisky in my pocket, if youd care for a whisky-and-soda. We can easily get soda-water, and personally I like the wine of the country.
Now, a whisky-and-soda was the one thing on earth that the Military Attach most wanted, but all he said was: Very well, you can do as you wish.
A few minutes later the three of them were sitting in the cool shade of a great tree with two bottles before them, a jug of water and a bowl of ice. The Assistant Military Attach, who knew more of the language than either of the others, had slipped into the role of master of ceremonies. He first half filled the Military Attachs glass with whisky from his flask and then poured in the mineral water. The Military Attach saw that it was strong, but felt he needed it. He was in pain, but determined not to show it. He could sleep during the rest of the journey, and all he had to do at the end of it was to stand to attention.
The Assistant Military Attach helped himself to wine and then, seeing that the Chaplain was gazing rather dejectedly at his glass of cold water, he leant over and poured some whisky into it, saying in reply to the feeble protest, Come on, Padre, you know you like it, and it will kill those awful typhoid germs that Colonel Hamilton was talking about.
The Chaplain allowed himself to be persuaded. The Assistant Military Attach looked at his watch.
Were well up to time, he said, and can afford to relax for at least a quarter of an hour.
Peace came to them as they sat there, stillness after speed, shadow after sunlight. Irritation and animosity were smoothed away. The Assistant Military Attach was sensitive to atmosphere and felt that the moment was favourable for putting questions that he had long been wanting to ask.
Its a strange business, this funeral that were attending, he hazarded.
Its much stranger than you suppose, replied Colonel Hamilton, sipping his whisky.
He was in your regiment, sir, wasnt he?
I suppose so. Theres nobody else of that name in the Army List.
Was he only recently promoted?
Youre thinking of the telegram I sent two days ago. As theyre going to put a stone on his grave, I thought theyd better state his rank correctly. A month ago he was a captain, and one who had been passed over for promotion half a dozen times. He was out of a job, and so far as I could see had little chance of getting one. You saw the reply of the War Office to my telegram. Rank correctly stated as major.
It does seem a bit mysterious.
Its as mysterious as be damned.
Could it have been that he was employed by the Secret Service?
No, it couldnt. I dont know much about the Secret Service, and the less you talk about it, young man, the better. I dare say they trip up occasionally, but I cant believe they could be such fools as to employ this particular fellow.
How about that packet that was found on the body? It was pretty decent of these people here to send it along to the Embassy without opening it.
