Produced by Al Haines

ANTHONY LYVEDEN

BY

DORNFORD YATES

WARD, LOCK & CO., LIMITED

LONDON AND MELBOURNE

Library Editions of "Anthony Lyveden"

  First Published . . 1921
  Reprinted . . . . 1922
  Reprinted . . . . 1923
  Reprinted . . . . 1925
  Reprinted . . . . 1928
  Reprinted . . . . 1929
  Reprinted . . . . 1932
  Reprinted . . . . 1935
  Reprinted . . . . 1939
  Reprinted . . . . 1942
  Reprinted . . . . 1943
  Reprinted . . . . 1944
  Reprinted . . . . 1945

MADE IN ENGLAND

Printed in Great Britain by Butler & Tanner Ltd., Frome and London

TO

ELM TREE ROAD

whose high walls, if they could talk, would tell so many pretty tales.

CHAP.

I THE WAY OF A MAN II THE WAY OF A MAID III THE VOICE OF THE TURTLE IV THE GOLDEN BOWL V AN HIGH LOOK AND A PROUD HEART VI THE COMFORT OF APPLES VII NEHUSHTAN VIII THE POWER OF THE DOG IX VANITY OF VANITIES

CHAPTER I

THE WAY OF A MAN

Major Anthony Lyveden, D.S.O., was waiting.

For the second time in three minutes he glanced anxiously at his wristand then thrust his hand impatiently into a pocket. When you have worna wristwatch constantly for nearly six years, Time alone can accustomyou to its absence. And at the present moment Major Lyveden's watchwas being fitted with a new strap. The pawnbroker to whom he had soldit that morning for twenty-two shillings was no fool.

The ex-officer walked slowly on, glancing into the windows of shops.He wanted to know the time badly. Amid the shifting press offoot-passengers a little white dog stuck to his heels resolutely. Thesudden sight of a clock-maker's on the opposite side of thethoroughfare proved magnetic. Pausing on the kerb to pick up theSealyham, Lyveden crossed the street without more ado….

Twenty-one minutes past three.

Slowly he put down the terrier and turned eastward. It was clear thathe was expecting something or somebody.

It was a hot June day, and out of the welter of din and rumble the coolplash of falling water came to his straining ears refreshingly. Atonce he considered the dog and, thankful for the distraction, steppedbeneath the portico of a provision store and indicated the marble basinwith a gesture of invitation.

"Have a drink, old chap," he said kindly. "Look. Nice cool water for
Patch." And, with that, he stooped and dabbled his fingers in the pool.

Thus encouraged the little white dog advanced and lapped gratefully….

"Derby Result! Derby Result!"

The hoarse cry rang out above the metallic roar of the traffic.

Lyveden caught his breath sharply and then stepped out of the shelterof the portico on to the crowded pavement. He was able to buy a paperalmost immediately.

Eagerly he turned it about, to read the blurred words….

For a moment he stood staring, oblivious of al

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