“I’ll tell you to-night. I’ve a lot to do now. Of course you know your own cards; but if I were you, I should keep in with her. She can be dangerous, as I’ve told you more than once. Well, till this evening then,” he added lightly, and went away.
What story had Elma been spreading now? I had better know it at once, I thought, and went to her to ask.
“The Colonel has gone, then? And the Captain, too. I am glad you have him for a friend, Mr. Bergwyn,” she said, in her lightest manner. “You would have found Belgrade dull without a man friend. Yet you don’t quite understand the captain’s position?”
“Did you stay to enlighten me?”
“Oh dear, no. I have much more important matters to discuss. But I wish I had warned you that although he is on excellent terms with the officers—as he is with everyone, being a delightful man—yet he is not in the inner circle. He is of great use to them; but he knows only what they choose to tell him. He has been of great use to them, for instance, in getting you over to their cause; but of course he has led you to make a great mistake.”
“He has just told me that you have spread some report concerning you and myself. What is that?”
“I thought he would. He hinted to me just now in the minute I had with him that he had heard something; and naturally I did not undeceive him. He seemed greatly mystified; of course I knew why,” she added.
“Perhaps you will enlighten me?”
“Don’t you think it is rather a delicate question?”
“I wish you would speak plainly,” I broke out, brusquely.