It was only when he had gone that I began to worry again.
And before I went to sleep I had fresh cause for anxious speculation.
"Marigold," said I, when he came in as usual to carry me to bed, "didn't I tell you that Major Boyce particularly wanted no one to know that he was in the town ?" "Yes, sir," said Marigold.

"I've told nobody." "And yet you showed him in without informing him that Mrs.Connor was here.

Really you ought to have had more tact." Marigold received his reprimand with the stolidity of the old soldier.
I have known men who have been informed that they would be court-martialled and most certainly shot, make the same reply.
"Very good, sir," said he.
I softened.

I was not Marigold's commanding officer, but his very grateful friend.

"You see," said I, "they were engaged before Mrs.
Connor married--I needn't tell you that; it was common knowledge--and so their sudden meeting was awkward." "Mrs.Marigold has already explained, sir," said he.
I chuckled inwardly all the way to my bedroom.
"All the same, sir," said he, aiding me in my toilet, which he did with stiff military precision, "I don't think the Major is as incognighto" (the spelling is phonetic) "as he would like.