So Near So Far by Parkinson C. Northcote Page A

must not expect to meet them in mid-Atlantic. But they pose a real threat to our Navy in the Channel and on our coast. Now you will ask what we should do—and what indeed we should have done—to counter this menace?”
    Longnose looked around for a response and a young manreplied: “I suppose we should build up our own gunboats to match theirs?”
    Longnose nodded approval. “Exactly, sir! We should beat them at their own game!”
    The discussion became more general and Delancey found himself in conversation with some sort of editor who sat on his right. “Our talkative friend has overlooked some facts which do not suit his argument,” said the older man. “He said nothing about the fate of a gunboat when hit!” Delancey agreed that this was a point which had been overlooked, adding “Nor did he comment upon a gunboat considered as a steady gun-platform.” They went on to talk of other matters and Mr Elton, his neighbour, turned out to be a man of intelligence.
    â€œAm I right, sir,” asked Delancey, “in thinking that you are connected with
The Times?”
    â€œI have that honour,” replied Mr Elton, not without a touch of pride.
    â€œI wonder, then, whether you can set my mind at rest upon a matter which has often puzzled me. Not all events take place in London. There can be unexpected incidents in other places—a fire here, a murder there, the collapse of a building somewhere else. You cannot have a representative everywhere. Do you take copies, therefore, of every local newspaper, and see from them what deserves your notice?”
    â€œWe do indeed, sir. They come in by every coach and are studied as soon as they arrive.”
    â€œWould someone like myself be allowed to look through the files? I am trying to discover at what provincial theatre a certain player is now appearing and must assume that local newspapers would provide the answer.”
    â€Sir, you are welcome to study these files but I fear that you may have a tedious search. Theatres these days are very numerous, plays being shown in Edinburgh and Plymouth, in Chester and Dover. You may have days of work ahead of you.”
    â€œI accept your kind offer, nevertheless. I am a man of leisure and not without my share of obstinacy.”
    It took Delancey a day and a half before he discovered the
Yorkshire Herald
with its announcement of a current play at the Theatre Royal, York; one in which Mr Charles Matthews played the male lead opposite Miss Fiona Sinclair. He knew now where the girl had gone and his first instinct was to go north at once. He changed his mind about that, however, and decided to begin the action at long range. He had in prospect this yachting event on Windermere for which he would have to prepare by a great deal of rehearsal. He would go there first, as Ravenglass and Lowther insisted, and on to York afterwards. So he now wrote Fiona a letter in which he apologised for seeking her friendship at a time when he was all but betrothed to a lady well known in London society. He hoped that he might be forgiven. She might now be assured that his relationship with the lady in question was quite at an end, that her family disapproved of his political associations and that he was now perfectly free to pay his respect to any other lady who was not herself already engaged. His affairs would presently take him to the north. Would she consent to see him if he were to visit York? Her reply, dated 24 March from York, showed that her departure from London had set him a test and that his finding where she was had gone some way towards gaining her friendship.

Chapter Four
“W ATER N YMPH ”
    D ELANCEY would never have wanted it known that his stay with Sir Roger Cartnel at Aysgarth Hall, near Bowness, was his first real experience of country life as known to the nobility and gentry. He had realised at the last moment that he would be expected to bring his own servant and