But the question elicited no answer except a shrug of the shoulders, and a "Hanged if I know!" Harry Feversham's place knew him no more; he had dropped even out of the speculations of his friends.
Toward the end of June, however, an old retired naval officer limped into the courtyard, saw Durrance, hesitated, and began with a remarkable alacrity to move away.
Durrance sprang up from his seat.
"Mr.Sutch," said he.

"You have forgotten me ?" "Colonel Durrance, to be sure," said the embarrassed lieutenant.

"It is some while since we met, but I remember you very well now.

I think we met--let me see--where was it?
An old man's memory, Colonel Durrance, is like a leaky ship.

It comes to harbour with its cargo of recollections swamped." Neither the lieutenant's present embarrassment nor his previous hesitation escaped Durrance's notice.
"We met at Broad Place," said he.