II + 

I + 

Sebastian Levinne was in his office going into the details of a ticklish contract when a telegram was brought to him. He opened it carelessly, for he received forty or fifty telegrams a day. After he had read it, he held it in his hand looking at it. + 

Then he crumpled it up, slipped it into his pocket and spoke to Lewis, his right-hand man. + 

тАЬGet on with this thing as best you can,тАЭ he said curtly. тАЬIтАЩm called out of town.тАЭ + 

He took no heed of the protestations that arose, but left the room. He paused to tell his secretary to see to the cancelling of various appointments and then went home, packed a bag, and took a taxi to Waterloo. There he unfolded the telegram again and read it. + 

Please come at once if you can very urgent Jane Wilts Hotel Wiltsbury. + 

It was a proof of his confidence and respect for Jane that he never hesitated. He trusted Jane as he trusted no one else in the world. If Jane said a thing was urgent, it was urgent. He obeyed the summons without wasting a thought of regret on the necessary complications it would cause. For no one else in the world, be it said, would he have done that. + 

On arriving at Wiltsbury he drove straight to the hotel and asked for her. She had engaged a private room, and there she met him with outstretched hands. + 

тАЬSebastianтБатАФmy dearтБатАФyouтАЩve been marvellously quick.тАЭ + 

тАЬI came at once.тАЭ He slipped off his coat and threw it over the back of a chair. тАЬWhat is it, Jane?тАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs Vernon.тАЭ + 

Sebastian looked puzzled. + 

тАЬWhat about him?тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩs not dead. IтАЩve seen him.тАЭ + 

Sebastian stared at her for a minute, then drew a chair to the table and sat down. + 

тАЬItтАЩs not like you, Jane, but I think, for once in your life, you must have been mistaken.тАЭ + 

тАЬI wasnтАЩt mistaken. ItтАЩs possible, I suppose, for the War Office to have made an error?тАЭ + 

тАЬErrors have been made more than onceтБатАФbut theyтАЩve usually been contradicted fairly soon. It stands to reason that they must be. If VernonтАЩs alive, whatтАЩs he been doing all this time?тАЭ + 

She shook her head. + 

тАЬThat I canтАЩt say. But IтАЩm as sure about its being Vernon as I am that itтАЩs you here now.тАЭ + 

She spoke curtly but very confidently. + 

He stared at her very hard, then nodded. + 

тАЬTell me,тАЭ he said. + 

Jane spoke quietly and composedly. + 

тАЬThereтАЩs an American here, a Mr.┬аBleibner. I met him out in Serbia. We recognized each other in the street. He told me he was staying at the County Hotel and asked me to lunch today. I went. Afterwards it was raining. He wouldnтАЩt hear of my walking back. His car was there and would take me. His car did take me. Sebastian, the chauffeur was VernonтБатАФand he didnтАЩt know me.тАЭ + 

Sebastian considered the matter. тАЬYouтАЩre sure you werenтАЩt deceived by some strong resemblance?тАЭ + 

тАЬPerfectly sure.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen why didnтАЩt Vernon recognize you? He was pretending, I suppose.тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, I donтАЩt think soтБатАФin fact, IтАЩm sure he wasnтАЩt. He would be bound to give some signтБатАФa startтБатАФsomething. He couldnтАЩt have been expecting to see me. He couldnтАЩt have controlled his first surprise. Besides, he lookedтБатАФdifferent.тАЭ + 

тАЬHow different?тАЭ + 

Jane considered. + 

тАЬItтАЩs hard to explain. Rather happy and jolly andтБатАФjust faintlyтБатАФlike his mother.тАЭ + 

тАЬExtraordinary,тАЭ said Sebastian. тАЬIтАЩm glad you sent for me. If it is VernonтБатАФwell, itтАЩs going to be the devil of a business. Nell having married again and everything. We donтАЩt want reporters coming down like wolves on the fold. I suppose thereтАЩll have to be some publicity.тАЭ He got up, walked up and down. тАЬThe first thing is to get hold of Bleibner.тАЭ + 

тАЬI telephoned to him, asking him to be here at six-thirty. I didnтАЩt dare leave it, though I was afraid you wouldnтАЩt be able to get here so soon. Bleibner will be here any minute.тАЭ + 

тАЬGood for you, Jane. We must hear what heтАЩs got to say.тАЭ + 

There was a knock at the door and Mr.┬аBleibner was announced. Jane rose to meet him. + 

тАЬItтАЩs very good of you to come, Mr.┬аBleibner,тАЭ she began. + 

тАЬNot at all,тАЭ said the American. тАЬAlways delighted to oblige a lady. And you said that the matter you wanted to see me about was urgent.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt is. This is Mr.┬аSebastian Levinne.тАЭ + 

тАЬThe Mr.┬аSebastian Levinne? IтАЩm very pleased to meet you, sir.тАЭ + 

The two men shook hands. + 

тАЬAnd now, Mr.┬аBleibner,тАЭ said Jane. тАЬIтАЩll come straight to what I want to talk to you about. How long have you had your chauffeur, and what can you tell us about him?тАЭ + 

Mr.┬аBleibner was plainly surprised and showed it. + 

тАЬGreen? You want to know about Green?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬWellтБатАФтАЭ The American reflected. тАЬIтАЩve no objections to telling you what I know. I guess you wouldnтАЩt ask without a good reason. I know you well enough for that, Miss Harding. I picked up Green in Holland not long after the armistice. He was working in a local garage. I discovered he was an Englishman and began to take an interest in him. I asked him his history and he was pretty vague about it. I thought at first he had something to conceal, but I soon convinced myself that he was genuine enough. The man was in a kind of mental fog. He knew his name and where he came from but very little else.тАЭ + 

тАЬLost memory,тАЭ said Sebastian softly. тАЬI see.тАЭ + 

тАЬHis father was killed in the South African war, he told me. He remembered his father singing in the village choir, and he remembered a brother whom he used to call Squirrel.тАЭ + 

тАЬAnd he was quite sure about his own name?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! yes. As a matter of fact heтАЩd got it written down in a small pocketbook. There was an accident, you know. He was knocked down by a lorry. ThatтАЩs how they knew who he was. They asked him if his name was Green and he said YesтБатАФGeorge. He was very popular at the garage, he was so sunny and lighthearted. I donтАЩt believe IтАЩve ever seen Green out of temper. + 

тАЬWell, I took a fancy to the young chap. IтАЩve seen a few shell-shocked cases, and his state wasnтАЩt any mystery to me. He showed me the entry in his pocketbook, and I made a few inquiries. I soon found the reasonтБатАФthere always is a reason, you knowтБатАФfor his loss of memory. Corporal George Green, London Fusiliers, was a deserter. + 

тАЬThere, you have it. HeтАЩd funked thingsтБатАФand being a decent young fellow really, he couldnтАЩt face the fact. I explained it all to him. He saidтБатАФrather wonderingly: тАШI shouldnтАЩt have thought I could ever desertтБатАФnot desert.тАЩ I explained to him that that point of view was just the reason he couldnтАЩt remember. He couldnтАЩt remember because he didnтАЩt want to remember. + 

тАЬHe listened but I donтАЩt think he was very convinced. I felt, and still feel, extremely sorry for him. I didnтАЩt think there was any obligation on my part to report his existence to the military authorities. I took him into my service and offered him a chance to make good. IтАЩve never had cause to regret it. HeтАЩs an excellent chauffeurтБатАФpunctual, intelligent, a good mechanic, and always sunny tempered and obliging.тАЭ + 

Mr.┬аBleibner paused and looked inquiringly at Jane and Sebastian. Their pale serious faces impressed him. + 

тАЬItтАЩs frightening,тАЭ said Jane in her low voice. тАЬItтАЩs one of the most frightening things that could happen.тАЭ + 

Sebastian took her hand and squeezed it. + 

тАЬItтАЩs all right, Jane.тАЭ + 

Jane roused herself with a slight shiver and spoke to the American. + 

тАЬI think itтАЩs our turn to explain. You see, Mr.┬аBleibner, in your chauffeur I recognized an old friendтБатАФand he didnтАЩt recognize me.тАЭ + 

тАЬInтАСdeed!тАЭ + 

тАЬBut his name wasnтАЩt Green,тАЭ said Sebastian. + 

тАЬNo? You mean he enlisted under another name?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo. ThereтАЩs something there that seems incomprehensible. I suppose we shall get at it some day. In the meantime, I will ask you, Mr.┬аBleibner, not to repeat this conversation to anyone. ThereтАЩs a wife in the matter, andтБатАФoh! many other considerations.тАЭ + 

тАЬMy dear sir,тАЭ said Mr.┬аBleibner. тАЬYou can trust me to be absolutely silent. But what next? Do you want to see Green?тАЭ + 

Sebastian looked at Jane and she bowed her head. + 

тАЬYes,тАЭ said Sebastian slowly. тАЬI think perhaps that would be the best plan.тАЭ + 

The American rose. + 

тАЬHeтАЩs below now. He brought me here. IтАЩll send him up right away.тАЭ + 

II + 

George Green mounted the stairs with his usual buoyant step. As he did so he wondered what had happened to upset the old josserтБатАФby that term meaning his employer. Very queer the old buffer had looked. + 

тАЬThe door at the top of the stairs,тАЭ Mr.┬аBleibner had said. + 

George Green rapped on it sharply with his knuckles and waited. A voice called тАЬCome inтАЭ and he obeyed. + 

There were two people in the roomтБатАФthe lady he had driven home yesterday (whom he thought of in his own mind as a tip-topper) and a big, rather fat man with a very yellow face and projecting ears. His face seemed vaguely familiar to the chauffeur. For a moment he stood there while they both stared at him. He thought: тАЬWhatтАЩs the matter with everybody this evening?тАЭ + 

He said, тАЬYes, sir?тАЭ in a respectful voice to the yellow gentleman. He went on: тАЬMr.┬аBleibner told me to come up.тАЭ + 

The yellow gentleman seemed to recover himself. + 

тАЬYes, yes,тАЭ he said. тАЬThatтАЩs right. Sit downтБатАФerтБатАФGreen. ThatтАЩs your name, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir. George Green.тАЭ + 

He sat down, respectfully, in the chair indicated. The yellow gentleman handed him a cigarette case and said, тАЬHelp yourself.тАЭ And all the time, his eyes, small piercing eyes, never left GreenтАЩs face. That intent burning gaze made the chauffeur uneasy. What was up with everyone tonight? + 

тАЬI wanted to ask you a few questions. To begin with, have you ever seen me before?тАЭ + 

Green shook his head. + 

тАЬNo, sir.тАЭ + 

тАЬSure?тАЭ persisted the other. + 

A faint trace of uncertainty crept into GreenтАЩs voice. + 

тАЬIтБатАФI donтАЩt think so,тАЭ he said doubtfully. + 

тАЬMy name is Sebastian Levinne.тАЭ + 

The chauffeurтАЩs face cleared. + 

тАЬOf course, sir, IтАЩve seen your picture in the papers. I thought it seemed familiar somehow.тАЭ + 

There was a pause, and then Sebastian Levinne asked casually: + 

тАЬHave you ever heard the name of Vernon Deyre?тАЭ + 

тАЬVernon Deyre,тАЭ Green repeated the name thoughtfully. He frowned perplexedly. тАЬThe name seems somehow familiar to me, sir, but I canтАЩt quite place it.тАЭ He paused, the frown deepening. тАЬI think IтАЩve heard it.тАЭ And then added, тАЬThe gentlemanтАЩs dead, isnтАЩt he?тАЭ + 

тАЬSo thatтАЩs your impression, is it? That the gentleman is dead.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir, and a goodтБатАФтАЭ + 

He stopped suddenly, crimsoning. + 

тАЬGo on,тАЭ said Levinne. тАЬWhat were you going to say?тАЭ He added shrewdly, perceiving where the trouble lay, тАЬYou need not mince your words. Mr.┬аDeyre was no relation of mine.тАЭ + 

The chauffeur accepted the implication. + 

тАЬI was going to say a good job, tooтБатАФbut I donтАЩt know that I ought to say it, since I canтАЩt remember anything about him. But IтАЩve got a kind of impression thatтБатАФwell, that he was best out of the way, so to speak. Made rather a mess of things, hadnтАЩt he?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou knew him?тАЭ + 

The frown deepened in an agony of attempted recollection. + 

тАЬIтАЩm sorry, sir,тАЭ the chauffeur apologized. тАЬSince the war things seemed to have got a bit mixed up. I canтАЩt always recollect things clearly. I donтАЩt know where I came across Mr.┬аDeyre, and why I disliked him, but I do know that IтАЩm thankful to hear that heтАЩs dead. He was no goodтБатАФyou can take my word for that.тАЭ + 

There was a silence, only broken by something like a smothered sob from the other occupant of the room. Levinne turned to her. + 

тАЬTelephone to the theatre, Jane,тАЭ he said. тАЬYou canтАЩt appear tonight.тАЭ + 

She nodded and left the room. Levinne looked after her and then said abruptly: + 

тАЬYouтАЩve seen Miss Harding before?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir. I drove her home today.тАЭ + 

Levinne sighed. Green looked at him inquiringly. + 

тАЬIsтБатАФis that all, sir? IтАЩm sorry to have been so little use. I know IтАЩve been a bitтБатАФwell, queer since the war. My own fault. Perhaps Mr.┬аBleibner told youтБатАФIтБатАФI didnтАЩt do my duty as I should have done.тАЭ + 

His face flushed but he brought out the words resolutely. Had the old josser told them or not? Better to say that anyway. At the same time, a pang of shame pierced him keenly. He was a deserter, a man who had run away! A rotten business. + 

Jane Harding came back into the room and resumed her place behind the table. She looked paler than when she had gone out, Green thought. Curious eyes she hadтБатАФso deep and tragic. He wondered what she was thinking about. Perhaps she had been engaged to this Mr.┬аDeyre. No, Mr.┬аLevinne wouldnтАЩt have urged him to speak out if that had been the case. It was probably all to do with money. A will, or something like that. + 

Mr.┬аLevinne began questioning him again. He made no reference to the last sentence. + 

тАЬYour father was killed in the Boer War, I believe?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, sir.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou remember him?тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! yes, sir.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat did he look like?тАЭ + 

Green smiled. The memory was pleasant to him. + 

тАЬA burly sort of chap. Mutton chop whiskers. Very bright blue eyes. I remember him as well as anything singing in the choir. Baritone voice he had.тАЭ + 

He smiled happily. + 

тАЬAnd he was killed in the Boer War?тАЭ + 

A sudden look of doubt crept into GreenтАЩs face. He seemed worriedтБатАФdistressed. His eyes looked pathetically across the table like a dog at fault. + 

тАЬItтАЩs queer,тАЭ he said. тАЬI never thought of that. HeтАЩd be too old. HeтБатАФand yet IтАЩd swearтБатАФIтАЩm sureтБатАФтАЭ + 

The look of distress in his eyes was so acute that the other said, тАЬNever mind,тАЭ and went on: тАЬAre you married, Green?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, sir.тАЭ + 

The answer came with prompt assurance. + 

тАЬYou seem very certain about that,тАЭ said Mr.┬аLevinne smiling. + 

тАЬI am, sir. It leads to nothing but troubleтБатАФmixing yourself up with women.тАЭ He stopped abruptly and said to Jane: тАЬI beg your pardon.тАЭ + 

She smiled faintly and said: тАЬIt doesnтАЩt matter.тАЭ + 

There was a pause. Levinne turned to her and said something so quickly that Green could not catch it. It sounded like: + 

тАЬExtraordinary likeness to Sydney Bent. Never imagined it was there.тАЭ + 

Then they both stared at him again. + 

And suddenly he was afraidтБатАФdefinitely childishly afraidтБатАФin the same way that he remembered being afraid of the dark when he was a baby. There was something upтБатАФthat was how he put it to himselfтБатАФand these two knew it. Something about him. + 

He leant forwardтБатАФacutely apprehensive. + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs the matter?тАЭ he said sharply. тАЬThereтАЩs somethingтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

They didnтАЩt deny itтБатАФjust continued to look at him. + 

And his terror grew. Why couldnтАЩt they tell a chap? They knew something that he didnтАЩt. Something dreadful. He said again, and this time his voice was high and shrill: + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs the matter?тАЭ + 

The lady got upтБатАФhe noticed in the background of his mind as it were how splendidly she moved. She was like a statue heтАЩd seen somewhere. She came round the table and laid a hand on his shoulder. She said comfortingly and reassuringly: тАЬItтАЩs all right. You mustnтАЩt be frightened.тАЭ + 

But GreenтАЩs eyes continued to question Levinne. This man knewтБатАФthis man was going to tell him. What was this horrible thing that they knew and he didnтАЩt? + 

тАЬVery odd things have happened in this war,тАЭ began Levinne. тАЬPeople have sometimes forgotten their own names.тАЭ + 

He paused significantly, but the significance was lost on Green. He said with a momentary return to cheerfulness: + 

тАЬIтАЩm not as bad as that. IтАЩve never forgotten my name.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut you have.тАЭ He stopped, then went on: тАЬYour real name is Vernon Deyre.тАЭ + 

The announcement ought to have been dramatic, but it wasnтАЩt. The words seemed to Green simply silly. He looked amused. + 

тАЬIтАЩm Mr.┬аVernon Deyre? You mean IтАЩm his double or something?тАЭ + 

тАЬI mean you are him.тАЭ + 

Green laughed frankly. + 

тАЬI canтАЩt monkey about with that stuff, sir. Not even if it means a title or a fortune! Whatever the resemblance, IтАЩd be bound to be found out.тАЭ + 

Sebastian Levinne leant forward over the table and rapped out each word separately with emphasis: + 

тАЬYouтБатАФareтБатАФVernonтБатАФDeyre.тАЭ + 

Green stared. The emphasis impressed him. + 

тАЬYouтАЩre kidding me?тАЭ + 

Levinne slowly shook his head. Green turned suddenly to the woman who stood beside him. Her eyes, very grave and absolutely assured, met his. She said very quietly: + 

тАЬYou are Vernon Deyre. We both know it.тАЭ + 

There was dead silence in the room. To Green, it seemed as though the whole world was spinning round. It was like a fairy story, fantastic and impossible. And yet something about these two compelled credence. He said uncertainly: + 

тАЬButтБатАФbut things donтАЩt happen like that. You couldnтАЩt forget your own name!тАЭ + 

тАЬEvidentlyтБатАФsince you have done so.тАЭ + 

тАЬButтБатАФbut, look here, sirтБатАФI know IтАЩm George Green. IтБатАФwell, I just know it!тАЭ + 

He looked at them triumphantly, but slowly and remorselessly Sebastian Levinne shook his head. + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know how thatтАЩs come about,тАЭ he said. тАЬA doctor would probably be able to tell you. But I do know thisтБатАФthat you are my friend, Vernon Deyre. There is no possible doubt of that.тАЭ + 

тАЬButтБатАФbut, if thatтАЩs true, I ought to know it.тАЭ + 

He felt bewildered, horribly uncertain. A strange sickening world where you couldnтАЩt be sure of anything. These were kindly sane people, he trusted them. What they said must be soтБатАФand yet something in him refused to be convinced. They were sorry for himтБатАФhe felt that. And that frightened him. There was something more yetтБатАФsomething that he hadnтАЩt been told. + 

тАЬWho is he?тАЭ he said sharply. тАЬThis Vernon Deyre, I mean.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou come from this part of the world. You were born and spent most of your childhood at a place called Abbots PuissantsтБатАФтАЭ + 

Green interrupted him in astonishment. + 

тАЬAbbots Puissants? Why, I drove Mr.┬аBleibner there yesterday. And you say itтАЩs my old home, and I never recognized it!тАЭ + 

He felt suddenly buoyed up and scornful. The whole thing was a pack of lies! Of course it was! He had known it all the time. These people were honest, but they were mistaken. He felt relievedтБатАФhappier. + 

тАЬAfter that you went to live near Birmingham,тАЭ continued Levinne. тАЬYou went to school at Eton and from there you went on to Cambridge. After that you went to London and studied music. You composed an opera.тАЭ + 

Green laughed outright. + 

тАЬThere youтАЩre quite wrong, sir. Why, I donтАЩt know one note of music from another.тАЭ + 

тАЬThe war broke out. You obtained a commission in the yeomanry. You were marriedтБатАФтАЭ he paused, but Green gave no signтБатАФтАЬand went out to France. In the spring of the following year you were reported Killed in Action.тАЭ + 

Green stared at him incredulously. What sort of a rigmarole was this? He couldnтАЩt remember a thing about any of it. + 

тАЬThere must be some mistake,тАЭ he said confidently. тАЬMr.┬аDeyre must have been what they call my тАШdouble.тАЩтАКтАЭ + 

тАЬThere is no mistake, Vernon,тАЭ said Jane Harding. + 

Green looked from her to Sebastian. The confident intimacy of her tone had done more to convince him than anything else. He thought: тАЬThis is awful. A nightmare. Such things canтАЩt happen.тАЭ He began to shake all over, unable to stop. + 

Levinne got up, mixed him a stiff drink from materials that stood on a tray in the corner and brought it back to him. + 

тАЬSwallow this,тАЭ he said. тАЬAnd youтАЩll feel better. ItтАЩs been a shock.тАЭ + 

Green gulped down the draught. It steadied him. The trembling ceased. + 

тАЬBefore God, sir,тАЭ he said. тАЬIs this true?тАЭ + 

тАЬBefore God, it is,тАЭ said Sebastian. + 

He brought a chair forward, sat down close by his friend. + 

тАЬVernon, dear old chapтБатАФdonтАЩt you remember me at all?тАЭ + 

Green stared at himтБатАФan anguished stare. Something seemed to stir ever so faintly. How it hurt, this trying to remember! There was somethingтБатАФwhat was it? He said doubtfully: + 

тАЬYouтБатАФyouтАЩve grown up.тАЭ He stretched out a hand and touched SebastianтАЩs ear. тАЬI seem to rememberтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬHe remembers your ears, Sebastian,тАЭ cried Jane and going over to the mantelpiece she laid her head down upon it and began to laugh. + 

тАЬStop it, Jane.тАЭ Sebastian rose, poured out another drink and took it to her. тАЬSome medicine for you.тАЭ + 

She drank it, handed the glass back to him, smiled faintly and said: тАЬIтАЩm sorry. I wonтАЩt do it again.тАЭ + 

Green was going on with his discoveries. + 

тАЬYouтАЩreтБатАФyouтАЩre not a brother, are you? No, you lived next door. ThatтАЩs itтБатАФyou lived next doorтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬThatтАЩs right, old chap.тАЭ Sebastian patted him on the shoulder. тАЬDonтАЩt worry to thinkтБатАФitтАЩll come back soon. Take it easy.тАЭ + 

Green looked at Jane. He said timidly and politely: + 

тАЬWere youтБатАФare youтБатАФmy sister? I seem to remember something about a sister.тАЭ + 

Jane shook her head, unable to speak. Green flushed. + 

тАЬIтАЩm sorry. I shouldnтАЩt haveтБатАФтАЭ + 

Sebastian interrupted. + 

тАЬYou didnтАЩt have a sister. There was a cousin who lived with you. Her name was Josephine. We called her Joe.тАЭ + 

Green pondered. + 

тАЬJosephineтБатАФJoe. Yes, I seem to remember something about that.тАЭ He paused and then reiterated pathetically: тАЬAre you sure my name isnтАЩt Green?тАЭ + 

тАЬQuite sure. Do you still feel it is?тАЭ + 

тАЬYesтБатАКтБатАж And you say I make up musicтБатАФmusic of my own? Highbrow stuffтБатАФnot ragtime?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬIt all seemsтБатАФwell, mad. Just thatтБатАФmad!тАЭ + 

тАЬYou mustnтАЩt worry,тАЭ said Jane gently. тАЬI dare say we have been wrong to tell you all this the way we have.тАЭ + 

Green looked from one to the other of them. He felt dazed. + 

тАЬWhat am I to do?тАЭ he asked helplessly. + 

Sebastian gave an answer with decision. + 

тАЬYou must stay here with us. YouтАЩve had a great shock, you know. IтАЩll go and square things with old Bleibner. HeтАЩs a very decent chap and heтАЩll understand.тАЭ + 

тАЬI shouldnтАЩt like to put him out in any way. HeтАЩs been a thundering good boss to me.тАЭ + 

тАЬHeтАЩll understand. IтАЩve already told him something.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhat about the car? I donтАЩt like to think of another chap driving that car. SheтАЩs running now as sweetlyтБатАФтАЭ + 

He was once again the chauffeur, intent on his charge. + 

тАЬI know. I know.тАЭ Sebastian was impatient. тАЬBut the great thing, my dear fellow, is to get you right as soon as possible. We want to get a first-class doctor on to you.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs a doctor got to do with it?тАЭ Green was slightly hostile. тАЬIтАЩm perfectly fit.тАЭ + 

тАЬPerhaps, a doctor ought to see you all the same. Not hereтБатАФin London. We donтАЩt want any talk down here.тАЭ + 

Something in the tone of the speakerтАЩs voice attracted GreenтАЩs attention. The flush came over his face. + 

тАЬYou mean the deserting businessтБатАКтБатАжтАК?тАЭ + 

тАЬNo, no. To tell the truth, I canтАЩt get the hang of that. I mean something quite different.тАЭ + 

Green looked at him inquiringly. + 

Sebastian thought: тАЬWell, I suppose heтАЩs got to know sometime.тАЭ Aloud he said: + 

тАЬYou see, thinking you were dead, your wife hasтБатАФwellтБатАФmarried again.тАЭ + 

He was a little afraid of the effect of those words. But Green seemed to see the matter in a humorous light. + 

тАЬThat is a bit awkward,тАЭ he said with a grin. + 

тАЬIt doesnтАЩt upset you in any way?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou canтАЩt be upset by a thing you donтАЩt remember.тАЭ He paused, as though really considering the matter for the first time. тАЬWas Mr.┬аDeyreтБатАФI mean, was IтБатАФfond of her?тАЭ + 

тАЬWellтБатАФyes.тАЭ + 

But again the grin came over GreenтАЩs face. + 

тАЬAnd I to be so positive I wasnтАЩt married. All the sameтАЭтБатАФhis face changedтБатАФтАЬitтАЩs rather frighteningтБатАФall this!тАЭ + 

He looked suddenly at Jane, as though seeking assurance. + 

тАЬDear Vernon,тАЭ she said, тАЬit will be all right.тАЭ + 

She paused, and then said in a quiet casual tone: + 

тАЬYou drove Mr.┬аBleibner over to Abbots Puissants, you say. Did youтБатАФdid you see anyone there? Any of the people of the house?тАЭ + 

тАЬI saw Mr.┬аChetwyndтБатАФand I saw a lady in the sunk gardens. I took her to be Mrs.┬аChetwynd, fair-haired and good-looking.тАЭ + 

тАЬDidтБатАФdid she see you?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. SeemedтБатАФwell, scared. Went dead-white and bolted like a rabbit.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh, God,тАЭ said Jane, and bit off the exclamation almost before it was uttered. + 

Green was cogitating quietly over the matter. + 

тАЬPerhaps she thought she knew me,тАЭ he said. тАЬShe must have been one of them who knew himтБатАФmeтБатАФin the old days, and it gave her a turn. Yes, that must have been it.тАЭ + 

He was quite happy with his solution. + 

Suddenly he asked: тАЬHad my mother got red hair?тАЭ + 

Jane nodded. + 

тАЬThen that was it.тАЭ He looked up apologetically. тАЬSorry. I was just thinking of something.тАЭ + 

тАЬIтАЩll go and see Bleibner now,тАЭ said Sebastian. тАЬJane will look after you.тАЭ + 

He left the room. Green leant forward in his chair, his head held between his hands. He felt acutely uncomfortable and miserableтБатАФespecially with Jane. Clearly he ought to know herтБатАФand he didnтАЩt. She had said тАЬDear VernonтАЭ just now. It was terribly awkward when people knew you and you felt they were strangers. If he spoke to her he supposed he ought to call her JaneтБатАФbut he couldnтАЩt. She was a stranger. Still he supposed heтАЩd have to get used to it. TheyтАЩd have to be Sebastian and George and Jane togetherтБатАФno, not GeorgeтБатАФVernon. Silly sort of name, Vernon. Probably heтАЩd been a silly sort of chap. + 

тАЬI mean,тАЭ he thought, trying desperately to force the realization upon himself, тАЬI must have been a silly sort of chap.тАЭ + 

He felt horribly lonelyтБатАФcut off from reality. He looked up to find Jane watching him, and the pity and understanding in her eyes made him feel a shade less forlorn. + 

тАЬItтАЩs rather terrible just at first, isnтАЩt it?тАЭ she said. + 

He said politely: тАЬIt is rather difficult. You donтАЩtтБатАФyou donтАЩt know where you are with things.тАЭ + 

тАЬI understand.тАЭ + 

She said no moreтБатАФjust sat there quietly beside him. His head jerked forward. He began to doze. In reality he only slept for a few minutes, but it seemed to him hours. Jane had turned all the lamps out but one. He woke with a start. She said quickly: + 

тАЬItтАЩs all right.тАЭ + 

He stared at her, his breath coming in gasps. He was still in the nightmare then, he hadnтАЩt wakened. And there was something worse to comeтБатАФsomething he didnтАЩt know yet. He was sure of it. That was why they all looked at him so pityingly. + 

Jane got up suddenly. Wildly, he cried out: + 

тАЬStay with me. Oh! please stay with me.тАЭ + 

He couldnтАЩt understand why her face should suddenly twist with pain. What was there in what he had said to make her look like that? He said again: тАЬDonтАЩt leave me. Stay with me.тАЭ + 

She sat down again beside him and took his hand in hers. She said very gently: + 

тАЬI wonтАЩt go away.тАЭ + 

He felt soothed, reassured. After a minute or two he dozed again. He woke quietly this time. The room was as before and his hand was still in JaneтАЩs. He spoke diffidently: + 

тАЬYouтБатАФyou arenтАЩt my sister? You wereтБатАФyou are, I meanтБатАФa friend of mine?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes.тАЭ + 

тАЬA great friend?тАЭ + 

тАЬA great friend.тАЭ + 

He paused. Yet the conviction in his mind was growing stronger and stronger. He blurted out suddenly: + 

тАЬYouтАЩreтБатАФyouтАЩre my wife, arenтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

He was sure of it. + 

She drew her hand away. He couldnтАЩt understand the look in her face. It frightened him. She got up. + 

тАЬNo,тАЭ she said. тАЬIтАЩm not your wife.тАЭ + 

тАЬOh! IтАЩm sorry. I thoughtтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬItтАЩs all right.тАЭ + 

And at that minute Sebastian came back. His eyes went to Jane. She said, with a little twisted smile: + 

тАЬIтАЩm glad youтАЩve come.тБатАКтБатАж IтАЩmтБатАФglad youтАЩve comeтБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

III + 

Jane and Sebastian talked long into the night. What was to be done? Who was to be told? + 

There was Nell and NellтАЩs position to consider. Presumably Nell should be told first of all. She was the one most vitally concerned. + 

Jane agreed. тАЬIf she doesnтАЩt know already.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou think she knows?тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, evidently she met Vernon that day face to face.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, but she must have thought it just a very strong resemblance.тАЭ + 

Jane was silent. + 

тАЬDonтАЩt you think so?тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut hang it all, Jane, if sheтАЩd recognized him, sheтАЩd have done somethingтБатАФgot hold of him or Bleibner. ItтАЩs two days ago now.тАЭ + 

тАЬI know.тАЭ + 

тАЬShe canтАЩt have recognized him. She just saw BleibnerтАЩs chauffeur and his likeness to Vernon gave her such a shock that she couldnтАЩt stand it and rushed away.тАЭ + 

тАЬI suppose so.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs in your mind, Jane?тАЭ + 

тАЬWe recognized him, Sebastian.тАЭ + 

тАЬYou mean you did. IтАЩd been told by you.тАЭ + 

тАЬBut you would have known him anywhere, wouldnтАЩt you?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, I wouldтБатАКтБатАж But then I know him so well.тАЭ + 

Jane said in a hard voice: тАЬSo does Nell.тАЭ + 

Sebastian looked sharply at her and said, тАЬWhat are you getting at, Jane?тАЭ + 

тАЬI donтАЩt know.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, you do. What do you really think happened?тАЭ + 

Jane paused before speaking. + 

тАЬI think Nell came upon him suddenly in the garden and thought it was Vernon. Afterwards she persuaded herself that it had only been a chance resemblance that had upset her so.тАЭ + 

тАЬWell, thatтАЩs very much what I said.тАЭ + 

He was a little surprised when she said meekly: тАЬYes, it is.тАЭ + 

тАЬWhatтАЩs the difference?тАЭ + 

тАЬPractically none, onlyтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬYes?тАЭ + 

тАЬYou and I would have wanted to believe it was Vernon even if it wasnтАЩt.тАЭ + 

тАЬWouldnтАЩt Nell? Surely she hasnтАЩt come to care for George Chetwynd to such an extentтБатАФтАЭ + 

тАЬNell is very fond of George, but Vernon is the only person sheтАЩs ever been in love with.тАЭ + 

тАЬThen thatтАЩs all right. Or is it worse that way? ItтАЩs the deuce of a tangle. What about his people?тБатАФMrs.┬аDeyre and the Bents?тАЭ + 

Jane said decidedly: тАЬNell must be told before they are. Mrs.┬аDeyre will broadcast it over England as soon as she knows, and that will be very unfair to both Vernon and Nell.тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, I think youтАЩre right. Now my plan is this. To take Vernon up to town tomorrow and go and see a specialistтБатАФthen be guided by what he advises.тАЭ + 

Jane said Yes, she thought that would be the best plan. She got up to go to bed. On the stairs she paused and said to Sebastian: + 

тАЬI wonder if weтАЩre right. Bringing him back, I mean. He looked so happy. Oh! Sebastian, he looked so happy.тБатАКтБатАжтАЭ + 

тАЬAs George Green, you mean?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes. Are you sure weтАЩre right?тАЭ + 

тАЬYes, IтАЩm pretty sure. It canтАЩt be right for anyone to be in that unnatural sort of state.тАЭ + 

тАЬI suppose it is unnatural. The queer thing is he looked so normal and commonplace. And happyтБатАФthatтАЩs what I canтАЩt get over, SebastianтБатАФhappy.тБатАКтБатАж WeтАЩre none of us very happy, are we?тАЭ + 

He couldnтАЩt answer that. + 