Chapter 32

⁠​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌⁠For a moment Philippa was unsteady upon her feet. Lessingham led her to a chair. From outside came the low, cautious hooting of the motor horn, calling to its dilatory passenger.

“I can not, of course, explain everything to you,” he began, in a tone of unusual restraint, “but I do know that for the last two years your husband has been responsible to the Admiralty for most of the mine fields around