He drew a deep breath.
"I have half suspected it," he murmured; then bluntly: "You must not serve hers."
"That is the decision I was sure you would make, General. We will take it as final."
"You are a very remarkable young woman, Miss Gilmore."
"And now, a somewhat fatigued one. I will bid you good-night. I am no longer your daughter's governess, but will remain until you have found my successor."
"You will always be a welcome guest in my house," and he bade me good-night with such new consideration as showed me I had impressed him quite as deeply as I could have wished. Perhaps rather too deeply, I thought afterwards, when I recalled his glances as we parted.
CHAPTER III
MY PLAN OF CAMPAIGN
When my talk with General von Erlanger over the chess board took place, I had but recently decided to plunge into the maelstrom whose gloomy undercurrent depths concealed the proofs of my father's innocence and the dark secret of his cruel wrongs.