Okewood of the Secret Service [122]
you've made your mark in it. The Chief wants men like you. You'll have to stay!"
Desmond was about to speak; but the girl stopped him. "What do you and I matter," she asked, "when the whole future of England is at stake! If you are to give of your best to this silent game of ours, you must be free with no responsibilities and no ties, with nothing that will ever make you hesitate to take a supreme risk. And I never met a man that dared more freely than you!"
"Oh, please..." said Desmond and got up.
He stood gazing seawards for a while.
Then he glanced at his watch.
"I must be going back to London," he said. "I have to see the Chief at four this afternoon. And you know why!"
The girl nodded.
"What will you tell him?" she asked. "Will you accept his offer to remain on in the Secret Service?"
Desmond looked at her ruefully.
"You're so eloquent about it," he said slowly, "that I think I must!"
Smiling, she gave him her hand. Desmond held it for an instant in his.
Then, without another word, he turned and strode off towards the winding white road that led to the station.
Barbara watched him until a turn in the road hid him from her sight. Then she pulled out her handkerchief.
"Good Heavens, girl!" she said to herself, I believe you're crying!"
End
Desmond was about to speak; but the girl stopped him. "What do you and I matter," she asked, "when the whole future of England is at stake! If you are to give of your best to this silent game of ours, you must be free with no responsibilities and no ties, with nothing that will ever make you hesitate to take a supreme risk. And I never met a man that dared more freely than you!"
"Oh, please..." said Desmond and got up.
He stood gazing seawards for a while.
Then he glanced at his watch.
"I must be going back to London," he said. "I have to see the Chief at four this afternoon. And you know why!"
The girl nodded.
"What will you tell him?" she asked. "Will you accept his offer to remain on in the Secret Service?"
Desmond looked at her ruefully.
"You're so eloquent about it," he said slowly, "that I think I must!"
Smiling, she gave him her hand. Desmond held it for an instant in his.
Then, without another word, he turned and strode off towards the winding white road that led to the station.
Barbara watched him until a turn in the road hid him from her sight. Then she pulled out her handkerchief.
"Good Heavens, girl!" she said to herself, I believe you're crying!"
End