E. Phillips Oppenheim

“ Usher nodded sympathetically. "There is one despatch, sir," he said. "I have decoded it. Shall I come upstairs with you now?"
Lord Brentmore led the way to a private sitting-room on the first floor and listened to the message. His face clouded over a little.
"A bit stiff, eh?" he remarked.
Usher nodded.
"It may be my fancy, sir," he said, "but it really seems to me that they want to force a quarrel."
"We won't have it," Brentmore answered. "We can't afford it. If war must come, it must, but not now. Another couple of years, and we can snap our fingers at them." ”

“ Lord Brentmore looked up amused. "Are you sure that he did?" he asked.
"Absolutely," Usher answered; "we were in the same carriage for some distance, until I changed into an empty one at Ipswich. Saw you coming down, didn't I?" he remarked, as Spielman reappeared.
"I believe so, sir," the head-waiter answered quietly. "A friend of mine gave me a pass."
"That's a lie," Usher muttered, as Spielman hurried off to another table. "I saw him give up his ticket."
Lord Brentmore smiled.
"After all, why not?" he remarked. "We all have one pet extravagance. His may be travelling first class. ”

“ Lord Brentmore was playing golf again in two days, and once more the war clouds lightened. The premises of the Waiters' Union were duly raided, and it was a very harmless lot of documents which fell into the hands of the police, and a much injured society who shouted of their wrongs. But another reigns in Max Meyell, alias Spielman's place, and many a garret bedroom in Soho or thereabouts is still adorned with the waiting rifle. ”

“ One man only, save myself, knows it. But I can tell you this: If I am successful, your rifles will be on your shoulders before many days are past, and you will see these English, as you march through the streets, scurry to their holes like rabbits. ”

“ A neatly dressed young man, fair, with waxed moustache, and a bearing which seemed to indicate some sort of military training, stepped out from a small pony-cart in front of the Grand Hotel, Settlingham-by-the-Sea, and promptly commenced a spirited argument with the driver as to the fare. ”

“ I shouldn't have engaged him again on the same terms, but he begged so hard, and the visitors here liked him so much."
Usher nodded.
"He wouldn't be likely to give up the job of his own accord, then?" he remarked.
"Sham being ill, or anything of that sort?"
"Is it likely, sir?" the manager asked. "Besides, I saw him in London only last week, and he was most eager about it."
Usher nodded and turned away.
"I trust that there isn't anything about the new man that you disapprove of, sir?" Mr. Rice asked with concern.
"Nothing at all," Usher answered. "He seems a most capable fellow. ”