Caution came to Bligh’s rescue, actually taking a word off the tip of his tongue.
“I’d like to try out one or two things this afternoon, sir. Will it be possible for me to have an office and some staff?”
“Yes. We’ll second you what staff you need, and give you all the communications facilities necessary. The possibility of trouble at Lords on Thursday is already being covered by Mr. Henry at the AB Division. We are working closely with him, you understand that?”
“I do, sir.”
“Very well.”
Gideon glanced at Hobbs, who immediately said:
“Rooms seven and eight on the third floor have been put aside for this, Commander.”
Gideon nodded.
“Right, Bligh. Take which one you prefer for your own use, and get someone else in the second room quickly.” Gideon studied the other’s face; a very intelligent, alert face, in which the blue eyes gave an indication of suppressed excitement. “This is an innovation, of course, but it could well become permanent. We need co- ordination of crowd control, larceny prevention, demonstrations handling, and the like. They’re usually regarded as separable, but we may find it will pay to regard each game and each playing-field or arena as part of an entity.”
Bligh was so eager to go that his hand was at the door.
“I do understand, Commander!” he assented. And as Gideon nodded, he strode out.
This was one of the moments when Gideon most liked Hobbs: found him much warmer, and more human than he often allowed himself to appear. They both watched Bligh disappear, both smiled, both chuckled. They were very close.
Then, in a strange, baffling way, Gideon seemed to find the other man drawing away from him; as if a kind of barrier were being deliberately erected between them. Hobbs’ face took on a woodenness which half-suggested that he regretted showing his feelings; that he was aware of a great gulf between himself and Gideon.
And suddenly, almost stiffly, he asked: “Can you spare ten minutes for a — personal matter, George?”
What the devil’s this? wondered Gideon, and said promptly:
“Of course!” He was acutely aware that Hobbs’ personal life had been savagely disrupted when his deeply- loved wife had died; and although that had been two years ago, it still seemed to explain the reserve, almost the aloofness of this man. “Like to sit down?”
“No, thanks,” said Hobbs. But he waited for Gideon to sit, and seemed to draw a deep breath. “George — you will probably say this is nothing to do with me. Please believe it is said with the best possible — ah — intentions.” He paused, bewildering Gideon still more, then almost blurted out. “Kate isn’t well — I’m worried about her. Penelope is very worried indeed. We both feel that you should know.”
CHAPTER TEN
For a long moment, Gideon simply sat there, Buddha-like in his huge chair, staring up at Hobbs. And-almost warily, hardly perceptibly — Hobbs moved until he was directly opposite him, so that they were like antagonists in confrontation.
Gideon was first aware of the shock — savage, painful, frightening. But his was a trained mind, and the shock did not make him miss the other significant thing Hobbs had said:
“Penelope is very worried indeed. We both feel that you should know.”
Slowly he picked up a telephone and as an operator came on the line, said in a clipped voice: “Get my wife!” Then he put the receiver down, over-carefully. He had to be extremely careful and slow-moving, the last thing he must do was to act impulsively. In a very calm voice, through lips which hardly moved, he asked: “And how long have you known about this?”
“That Kate wasn’t too well? Two months, I suppose.”
“Two months!” Gideon breathed.
“She promised—” Hobbs broke off, gulped, then went on: “She promised to see a doctor, and to tell you as soon as she knew what the trouble was. She didn’t — doesn’t — think it is serious.”
Again, Gideon could only stare at him,, without speaking. The telephone bell jarred through the silence, and he picked it up.
“Kate?”
“I’m sorry, sir, but there’s no answer from Mrs. Gideon.”
“Oh.” Gideon’s mouth was suddenly dry: he had to force himself to speak naturally. “Keep the call in — every ten minutes, without fail, until she answers.”
“Very good, sir.”
Gideon put the receiver down in the same, careful way as before. But now, for the first time, he eased his position a little and putting his left hand to his pocket, drew out a pipe with a very big, very shiny bowl. He seldom smoked it; but he always kept it in that pocket and in moments of stress, would rub it between thumb and forefinger or simply nurse it in his palm. He did that now, hand on the desk. Not once did he look away from Hobbs.
“So you’ve known for two months?” he said, flatly.
“Yes, George. I —”
“I’d like to find out what’s going on in my own way,” Gideon interrupted, less tensely but very gruffly. “How did you come to know?”
