“What chances could you have had?”
“My brother Bob landed in Château-Plessis once, but that was before I knew about the hidden guns at Argenton. Then a French spy got into the town, but I failed that time, too.”
“Here they are, sir,” said the other lieutenant, going toward the door.
Steps sounded outside and crossed the outer room. The aide reappeared, with two officers behind him. One was a tall, handsome Britisher about thirty years old, whose face was so strangely familiar to Lucy that she stared at him wonderingly as his hand rose to the salute. But the impression passed, for he bowed to her without recognition. Before the General had more than spoken a word of greeting, the second officer entered the room and stood at attention. Then at sight of Lucy he gave a gasp of such surprise as almost caused him to forget the General’s presence.
“Lucy! Lucy Gordon! You are free!” he cried.
The General looked up sharply. “You know her then? And you, Miss Gordon?”
For Lucy had leaped to her feet to hold out both hands to the young officer, her face all lighted up with joyful recognition.
“Oh, yes, General,” she stammered, struggling for words in her happiness at sight of this long-lost friend, “it’s Captain Harding!”
“Well, Captain Harding, I congratulate you on your friend,” said the General with a kindly smile. “This young lady crossed the German lines to bring us this plan of the Argenton defenses. I will ask you two gentlemen to give me your opinion on it.”
Making a respectful effort to hide his astonishment, and to silence his unbounded admiration, Captain Harding bent, together with the British officer, over the little paper on the General’s desk.