it would be advantageous for Julia to write to him or hear from him under the present circumstances.  He comes of a Norfolk family, too (Mrs. Polkington always knew about people’s families even when she did not know them personally; it was the sort of information that interested her); I don’t know what part of the county his people belong to, very likely nowhere near Julia; but supposing it were near enough for him to know from the address what kind of a place Julia was in, it really might be so awkward; we ought to be very careful for dear Richard’s sake, especially seeing his connection with the Palace.  I really think it would be wiser as you say, to be on the safe side.”

So she kept on that side, which, being, interpreted meant leaving Rawson-Clew’s information much where it was before.  She wrote very nicely, somewhat involved, not at all baldly; but reduced to plain terms her letter came to this—­she was not going to tell Julia’s address or anything about her.

So Rawson-Clew read it, and very angry he was.  And the worst of all was that on the same night that he received this letter, he also received orders to go at once to Constantinople.  He had no time for anything and no choice but to go and leave the search.  But during his journey across Europe an idea came to him with the suddenness of an inspiration.  He knew what Julia had done—­she had “retired,” even as she had said she hoped to on the first day they walked together.  She had retired somewhere from shams and hypocrisy, from society and her family; possibly even she had adopted the corduroy and onions part of the ambition; if so, that would explain her mother’s refusal, based on some kind of pride, to give her address.  She had retired, and she had taken Johnny Gillat with her, and her own people had washed their hands of her!  He knew now what to look for when he should come back.  He might not be back for two months or even three, but when he did come he would be able to find Julia and talk to her about the explosive—­and other things.

* * * * *

It may be here said that the wonderful explosive did not do what was expected of it, either in England or Holland, for it was found to decompose on keeping.  It did everything else that was boasted of it, but no one succeeded in keeping it more than fifteen months, an irremediate defect in an explosive for military purposes.  This, of course, was not discovered at first, and the honour and glory of obtaining the specimen was considerable, if only there had been some one to take it.  Rawson-Clew did not consider himself the person.

CHAPTER XVI

THE SIMPLE LIFE