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lying hid under my garden mould。 But I took it as a part of my punishment；
and bore it all uncomplainingly； practice even made me an adept in the art
of consolationI believe I really was a great comfort to them。
I had hoped that they would soon get over the first bitterness of their
loss； and that Bingo would be first replaced and then forgotten in the usual
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way； but there seemed no signs of this coming to pass。
The poor colonel was too plainly fretting himself ill about it； he went
pottering about forlornly； advertising； searching； and seeing people； but all；
of course； to no purpose； and it told upon him。 He was more like a man
whose only son and heir had been stolen than an Anglo…Indian officer who
had lost a poodle。 I had to affect the liveliest interest in all his inquiries
and expeditions； and to listen to and echo the most extravagant eulogies of
the departed； and the wear and tear of so much duplicity made me at last
almost as ill as the colonel himself。
I could not help seeing that Lilian was not nearly so much impressed
by my elaborate concern as her relatives； and sometimes I detected an
incredulous look in her frank brown eyes that made me very uneasy。 Little
by little； a rift widened between us； until at last in despair I determined to
know the worst before the time came when it would be hopeless to speak
at all。 I chose a Sunday evening as we were walking across the green from
church in the golden dusk； and then I ventured to speak to her of my love。
She heard me to the end； and was evidently very much agitated。 At last she
murmured that it could not be； unless no； it never could be now。
〃Unless； what？〃 I asked。 〃LilianMiss Roseblade； something has
come between us lately； you will tell me what that something is； won't
you？〃
〃Do you want to know /really/？〃 she said； looking up at me through
her tears。 〃Then I'll tell you； itit's Bingo！〃
I started back overwhelmed。 Did she know all？ If not； how much did
she suspect？ I must find out that at once。 〃What about Bingo？〃 I managed
to pronounce； with a dry tongue。
〃You never l…loved him when he was here；〃 she sobbed； 〃you know
you didn't！〃
I was relieved to find it was no worse than this。
〃No；〃 I said； candidly； 〃I did not love Bingo。 Bingo didn't love /me/；
Lilian； he was always looking out for a chance of nipping me somewhere。
Surely you won't quarrel with me for that！〃
〃Not for that；〃 she said； 〃only； why do you pretend to be so fond of
him now； and so anxious to get him back again？ Uncle John believes you；
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but /I/ don't。 I can see quite well that you wouldn't be glad to find him。 You
could find him easily if you wanted to！〃
〃What do you mean； Lilian？〃 I said； hoarsely。 〃/How/ could I find
him？〃 Again I feared the worst。
〃You're in a government office；〃 cried Lilian； 〃and if you only chose；
you could easily g…get g…government to find Bingo！ What's the use of
government if it can't do that？ Mr。 Travers would have found him long ago
if I'd asked him！〃
Lilian had never been so childishly unreasonable as this before； and
yet I loved her more madly than ever； but I did not like this allusion to
Travers； a rising barrister； who lived with his sister in a pretty cottage near
the station； and had shown symptoms of being attracted by Lilian。
He was away on circuit just then； luckily； but； at least； even he would
have found it a hard task to find Bingothere was comfort in that。
〃You know that isn't just； Lilian；〃 I observed； 〃but only tell me what
you want me to do。〃
〃Bub…bub…bring back Bingo！〃 she said。
〃Bring back Bingo！〃 I cried； in horror。 〃But suppose I /can't/ suppose
he's out of the country； ordead； what then Lilian？〃
〃I can't help it；〃 she said； 〃but I don't believe he /is/ out of the country
or dead。 And while I see you pretending to uncle that you cared awfully
about him； and going on doing nothing at all； it makes me think you're not
quitequite /sincere/！ And I couldn't possibly marry any one while I
thought that of him。 And I shall always have that feeling unless you find
Bingo！〃
It was of no use to argue with her； I knew Lilian by that time。 With her
pretty； caressing manner she united a latent obstinacy which it was
hopeless to attempt to shake。 I feared； too； that she was not quite certain as
yet whether she cared for me or not； and that this condition of hers was an
expedient to gain time。
I left her with a heavy heart。 Unless I proved my worth by bringing
back Bingo within a very short time； Travers would probably have
everything his own way。 And Bingo was dead！
However； I took heart。 I thought that perhaps if I could succeed by my
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earnest efforts in persuading Lilian that I really was doing all in my power
to recover the poodle； she might relent in time； and dispense with his
actual production。
So； partly with this object； and partly to appease the remorse which
now revived and stung me deeper than before； I undertook long and weary
pilgrimages after office hours。 I spent many pounds in advertisements； I
interviewed dogs of every size； colour； and breed； and of course I took
care to keep Lilian informed of each successive failure。 But still her heart
was not touched； she was firm。 If I went on like that； she told me； I was
certain to find Bingo one day； then； but not before； would her doubts be
set at rest。
I was walking one day through the somewhat squalid district which
lies between Bow Street and High Holborn； when I saw； in a small
theatrical costumer's window； a hand…bill stating that a black poodle had
〃followed a gentleman〃 on a certain date； and if not claimed and the finder
remunerated before a stated time would be sold to pay expenses。
I went in and got a copy of the bill to show Lilian； and； although by
that time I scarcely dared to look a poodle in the face； I thought I would go
to the address given and see the animal； simply to be able to tell Lilian I
had done so。
The gentleman whom the dog had very unaccountably followed was a
certain Mr。 William Blagg； who kept a little shop near Endell Street； and
called himself a bird…fanci