Page:Kangaroo, 1923.pdf/281

 What had they taken? They had not touched Somers' papers. But they had been through his pockets—they had taken the few loose letters from the pocket of his day-jacket—they had taken a book—-and a sort of note-book with scraps of notes for essays in it—and his address book—yes, a few things like that.

"But it'll be nothing. It'll be something to do with Sharpe's bother."

But he felt sick and sullen, and wouldn't get up early in the morning. Harriet was more prepared. She was down, dressed and tidy, making the breakfast. It was eight o'clock in the morning. Suddenly Somers heard her call:

"Lovat, they're here. Get up."

He heard the dread in her voice, and sprang into his clothes and came downstairs: a young officer, the burly police-sergeant, and two other loutish looking men. Somers came down without a collar.

"I have here a warrant to search your house," said the young officer.

"But you searched it yesterday, didn't you," cried Harriet.

The young officer looked at her coldly, without replying. He read the search-warrant, and the two lout-detectives, in civilian clothes, began to nose round.

"And the police-sergeant will read this order to you."

Somers, white, and very still, spoke no word, but waited. Then the police-sergeant, in rather stumbling fashion, began to read an order from the military authorities that Richard Lovat Somers, and Harriet Emma Marianna Johanna Somers, of Trevetham Cottage, etc., should leave the county of Cornwall within the space of three days. And further, within the space of twenty-four hours of their arrival in any place they must report themselves at the police station of the said place, giving their address. And they were forbidden to enter any part of the area of Cornwall, ete., etc., etc.

Somers listened in silence.

"But why?" cried Harriet. ""Why. What have we done?"

"I can't say what you have done," said the young officer in a cold tone, "but it must be something sufficiently serious. They don't send out these orders for nothing."