“The President did not seem to be angered at this insult.
“‘I have not offered it,’ he said simply. ‘It is better you should take your own measures. Need I detain you, colonel?’
“The colonel did not answer him, but turned to me and said:
“‘Signorina Nugent, we wait only for you, and time is precious.’
“‘I will follow you in a moment,’ I said, with my head still among the cushions.
“‘No, come now,’ he commanded.
“Looking up, I saw a smile on the President’s face. As I rose reluctantly, he also got up from the chair into which he had flung himself, and stopped me with a gesture. I was terribly afraid that he was going to say something hard to me, but his voice only expressed a sort of amused pity.
“‘The money, was it, signorina?’ he said. ‘Young people and beautiful people should not be mercenary. Poor child! you had better have stood by me.’
“I answered him nothing, but went out with the colonel, leaving him seated again in his chair, surveying with some apparent amusement the two threatening sentries who stood at the door. The colonel hurried me out of the house, saying:
“‘We must ride to the barracks. If the news gets there before us, they may cut up rough. You go home. Your work is done.’