The Washington times., 1937-09-28


derful sport that my visit here,
when things are a little critical in
London, might have seemed Grass"
IT am sure we all quite under
stand that" she assented.
II did want just a few words
with your son." Tring continued.
HE has helped us before, you
know, and I value his judgment.
Lady Matresser was not a
woman who usually showed her
emotions, but she was certainly
surprised.
II am delighted to hear you say
so, Sir Francis. To tell you the
truth, I never imagined that Ron.
AIDS travels were Of any interest
to anybody except to the Royal
Geographical Society and his
sporting friends. :.
by the way, my Son-in.law, Ste
phen Hennerley, is our only other
guess, and you know him. think. I"
"Of course I do" Sir Francis
assented. "He belongs to our party
and is a very useful member of
Parliament. There was a young
lady-a foreigner, believe-whom
I thought very attractive. I only
saw her for a moment"
CHARMING GIRL
! 'Mademoiselle S tamier is a
charming girl and very much ad-
mired. She is my daughters COM
i panion."
"Is she by any chance Of Au.
Strian nationality" Sir Francis
inquired.
"She is a niece of the Austrian
minister" Lady Matresser con-
fided.
Austria will be one Of our
problems, I fear, for years to
come" Sir Francis observed.
II think most English people
have the warmest feelings Of
friendship toward her but we
never seem to be in a position to
be able to translate our good will
into practical help"
Dinner was announced and the
tete-a-tete came to an end. Sir
Francis, who had the look Of an
harassed man, talked courteously
but at no great length to his host
ess and exchanged only a few
remarks with Elisabeth who sat on
his other side.
you are going to join in one Of
these wonderful shooting parties,
Sir Francis?" the latter inquired.
Il? My dear young lady," he told
her, IT have not touched a gun
this year. I have just called on my
way back to town to have few
words with our host"
with Lord Matresser?" S h Q
asked in surprise.
He nodded assent.
I'VE look upon Matresser." he
went on, "as one Of our unofficial
ambassadors. He seems to have a
special gift for dealing with some
of these troublesome people in far.
away countries.
within my memory we have
three times asked for his advice.
In each case, if we had followed
it literally. we should have been
better Off"
! TOPIC OF INTEREST
Elisabeth was curiously inter.
ested.
But are they countries which
interest you?" she ventured.
| Every square yard Of land
where the Union Jack has once
been raised" he declared with
mock grandiloquence. lis our in
terest."
THAT sounds terribly like the
hustings," Hennerly observed with
a smile. st could imagine our local
patriot, balanced upon a tub at
Fakenham Market, getting off a
squib of that description"
1T would perhaps be better for
the country" Sir Francis re-
marked drily, "if there were little
! more of that sort of talk abroad"
May I say good-by to you now.
/ Lady Matresser." he begged. Il
know you will forgive my appar-
ent breach of manners. but I must
be in London early in the morn
ing so I have ventured to order
my car for an unheard OF hour.
: Your son and I are going to
have a talk in his den If you will
excuse us"
She shook hands with a some
what mystified smile.
I'VE are sorry to see so little Of
you, Sir Francis" she said, but I
am delighted to think that Ronald
is likely to be Of some use to you"
Arrived in MatreSSer's den, Sir
Francis lit a cigar and Matresser
his pipe.
Burrows himself brought up
their coffee and brandy and re-
ceived his final instructions with
regard to the early departure Of
this important guest.
II am delighted to see you here.
Of course, sir" Matresser said as
soon as they had settled down.
but isn't it rather breach Of
our arrangement"
VITAL MESSAGE
ut had to be-" Sir Francis
acknowledged grimly. II don't
know whether you quite realize
what has happened.
st sent an important message
down to you by one Of our most
reliable men in the Foreign Office
Phillip Fergus. You know him.