And seeing
Avebury to-morrow. Why not? Perhaps if we did as the Germans do and gave
our names now, it might mitigate something of the extreme informality of
our behaviour."
"My name is Hardy. I've been a munition manufacturer. I was slightly
wounded by a stray shell near Arras while I was inspecting some plant I
had set up, and also I was hit by a stray knighthood. So my name is
now Sir Richmond Hardy. My friend is a very distinguished Harley Street
physician. Chiefly nervous and mental cases. His name is Dr. Martineau.
He is quite as civilized as I am. He is also a philosophical writer. He
is really a very wise and learned man indeed. He is full of ideas. He's
stimulated me tremendously. You must talk to him."
Sir Richmond glanced over his shoulder at the subject of these
commendations. Through the oval window glared an expression of malignity
that made no impression whatever on his preoccupied mind.
"My name," said the young lady, "is Grammont. The war whirled me over
to Europe on Red Cross work and since the peace I've been settling up
things and travelling about Europe. My father is rather a big business
man in New York."
"The oil Grammont?"
"He is rather deep in oil, I believe. He is coming over to Europe
because he does not like the way your people are behaving in
Mesopotamia.
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