"They are strong enough to frustrate any attack of the kind from you or any one else."
"But what can they do? You are a mutual friend, you know, General;" and I gave him one of my sweetest smiles.
"I have no hesitation in saying you might be in great personal danger, Miss Gilmore."
"I have already reminded you that I am an American citizen."
"You may take it from me that you will be prevented from taking any action of the hostile kind you contemplate."
I smiled again. "I am not in the least frightened, General. I am smiling because you come to me to speak about a mutual arrangement—when you have made up your mind that the only arrangement to be thought of is unconditional surrender on my part. And to force that, you threaten me with unspeakable penalties. We shouldn't call that any sort of arrangement at all, in the States, but merely—pardon the word—bluff."
I was gaining my first point rapidly. He was getting very angry at my opposition and the way I put it.
"I was prepared to find you a very daring young woman; but this thing shall not be allowed to go farther. You reckon on General von Erlanger's help; but he will be powerless here."
I indulged him with a third smile. "You are not quite right there. I have done something else. Knowing the Duke's power and influence might prevent his Excellency from protecting me, I wrote out an account of the matter and have arranged that—if anything unforeseen should happen to me, to-night, for instance—it shall be placed to-morrow morning in the hands of the American Consul. And even against the Ducal family, I will back my Government to keep its end up."
I paused, but he had nothing ready to answer that with; so I continued: "I think you'll agree that that foresight of mine cancels your threat, and that we can start in again on equal terms."