PROLOGUE CONTENTS AND IS SURPRISED 24 CHAPTER II IN WHICH HE JOURNEYS TO GODALMING, AND THE GAME BEGINS..... 46 CHAPTER III IN WHICH THINGS HAPPEN IN HALF MOON STREET 71 CHAPTER IV IN WHICHHE SPENDS A QUIET NIGHT ATTHE ELMS 96 CHAPTER V IN WHICH THERE IS TROUBLE AT GORING . 119 6 CONTENTS CHAPTER VI IN WHICH A VERY OLD GAME TAKES PLACE ON FiQB THE HOGS BACK 142 CHAPTER VII IN WHICH HE SPENDS AN HOUR OR TWO ON A ROOF . . . . . . 165 CHAPTER VIII IN WHICH HE GOES TO PARIS FOR A NIGHT . 192 CHAPTER IX IN WHICH HE HAS A NEAR SHAVE . . . 217 CHAPTER X IN WHICH THEHUN NATION DECREASES BY ONE . 241 CHAPTER XI IN WHICH LAKINGTON PLAYS HIS LAST COUP CHAPTER XII 266 IN WHICH THE LAST ROUND TAKES PLACE . 293 EPDLOGUE ... . 318 PROLOGUE IN the month ofDecember 1918, and on the very day that a British Cavalry Division marched into Cologne, with flags flying and bands playing as the conquerors ofa beaten nation, themanager ofthe Hotel Nationale in Berne received a letter. Its contents appeared to puzzle him somewhat, for having read it twice he rang the bell on his desk to summon his secretary. Almost immediately the door opened, and a young French girl came into the room. Monsieur rang She stood in front of the managers desk, awaiting instructions. Have we ever had staying in the hotel a man called le Comte de Guy He leaned back in his chair and looked at her through his pince-nez. The secretary thought for amoment and then shook her head. Not as far as I can remember, she said. Do we know anything about him Has he ever fed here, or taken a private room Again the secretary shook her head. Not that I know of. The manager handed her the letter, and waited in silence until she had read it. It seems onthe face of it a peculiar request from an unknown man, he remarked as she laid it down. A dinner of four covers no expense to be spared. Wines specified and if not in hotel to be obtained. A private room at half-past seven sharp. Guests to ask for room X. The secretary nodded in agreement. It can hardly be a hoax, she remarked after a short silence. No. The manager tapped his teeth with his pen thoughtfully. But if by any chance it was, it one for us. I wish I could would prove an expensive think who this Comte de Guy is. He sounds like a Frenchman, she answered. Then after a pause I suppose youll have to take it seriously I must. He took off his pince-nez and laid them on the desk hi front of him. Would you send the vnaitre dhotel tome at once. Whatevermayhave been the managers misgivings, they were certainly not shared by the head waiter as he left the office after receiving his instructions. War and short rations had not been conducive toany particularly lucrative business in his sphere andthewhole sound ofthe proposed entertainment seemed to him to contain considerable promise. Moreover, hewas aman who loved his work, and a free hand over preparing a dinnerwas a joy in itself. Undoubtedly he personally would meet the three guests and the mysteriousComte deGuy he personallywould seethattheyhad nothing to complain ofin thematterofthe service at dinner. . . . And so at about twenty minutes past seven the maitre dhdtel was hovering round the hall-porter, themanagerwas hovering round the maitre dhdtcl, and the secretary was hovering round both. At five-and- twenty minutes past the first guest arrived. . . . He was a peculiar-looking man, in a big fur coat, reminding one irresistibly of acod-fish. I wish to be taken to Room X...
