58 WITH KITCHENEE IH THE SOUDAH said with a bow, and then left the room. Captain Ewart remained there for another ten minutes. When he came out he nodded to Gregory. Will you come with me? ” he said. “ I am going to the bank. I shall not be there many minutes, and we can then have a talk together.”

“ Thank you, sir I I am going to the bank too. It was Mr. Murray who first spoke to Lord Cromer about me.”

“You could not have had a better introduction. Well, you won’t have very long to get ready for the start—that is, if you have not begun to prepare for it. However, there is no rush at present, therefore I have no doubt you will be able to get your khaki uniforms in time. As for other things, there will be no difficulty about them.”

“ You have been up at the front before, sir? ” “ Yes, my work is on the railway. I had a touch of fever, and got leave to come down and recruit before the hot weather came in. I dare say you think it hot here sometimes, but this is an ice-house in comparison with the desert.”

They talked until they arrived at the bank. “You may as well go in first and see Murray. I suppose you won’t be above two or three minutes. I shall be longer, perhaps a quarter of an hour, so if you wait for me we will go to Shepherd’s and talk your business over in some sort di comfort.”

“I am pleased indeed,” Mr. Murray said, when Gregory told him of his appointment. “It is better than I even hoped. It is bad enough there in the position of an officer, but it would be infinitely worse in any other capacity. Do you want to draw any money ? ” “Ho, sir; I have fifty pounds by me and that will be enough, I should think, for everything.”

“More than ample. Of course you have plenty of light underclothing of all sorts, and a couple of suits of khaki will not cost you anything like so much as they would if you got them at a military tailor’s in London. However, if you want more you will be able to draw it.”

“Thank you very much, sir I I will not detain you any