John Buchan

Greenmantle John Buchan

I wrote out a wire to Sandy, asking him to come up by the two-fifteen train and meet me atmy flat.'I have chosen my colleague, ' I said.'Billy Arbuthnot's boy? His father was at Harrow with me. I know the fellow-Harry used tobring him down to fish-tallish, with a lean, high-boned face and a pair of brown eyes likea pretty girl's. I know his record, too. There's a good deal about him in this office. He rodethrough Yemen, which no white man ever did before. The Arabs let him pass, for theythought him stark mad and argued that the hand of Allah was heavy enough on himwithout their efforts. He's blood-brother to every kind of Albanian bandit. Also he used totake a hand in Turkish politics, and got a huge reputation. Some Englishman was oncecomplaining to old Mahmoud Shevkat about the scarcity of statesmen in Western Europe, and Mahmoud broke in with, "Have you not the Honourable Arbuthnot?" You say he's inyour battalion. I was wondering what had become of him, for we tried to get hold of himhere, but he had left no address. Ludovick Arbuthnot-yes, that's the man. Buried deep inthe commissioned ranks of the New Army? Well, we'll get him out pretty quick!''I knew he had knocked about the East, but I didn't know he was that kind of swell. Sandy'snot the chap to buck about himself.''He wouldn't, ' said Sir Walter. 'He had always a more than Oriental reticence. I've gotanother colleague for you, if you like him.'He looked at his watch. 'You can get to the Savoy Grill Room in five minutes in a taxi-cab. Go in from the Strand, turn to your left, and you will see in the alcove on the right-handside a table with one large American gentleman sitting at it. They know him there, so hewill have the table to himself. I want you to go and sit down beside him. Say you come fromme. His name is Mr John Scantlebury Blenkiron, now a citizen of Boston, Mass., but bornand raised in Indiana. Put this envelope in your pocket, but don't read its contents till youhave talked to him. I want you to form your own opinion about Mr Blenkiro