But it was not at Stewart the officer was looking so triumphantly, it was at the girl. Perhaps he also, yielding to a subtle fascination, was telling things he had no right to tell in order to prove his importance!
The girl returned his gaze with a look of astonishment and admiration.
“How wonderful!” she breathed. “And it is really true?”
“True in every detail, madame.”
“But this Lille of which you have spoken—is it a fortress?”
“A great fortress, madame.”
“Will it not resist?”
“Not for long—perhaps not at all. If it does resist, it will fall like a house of cards. The whole world will be astonished, madame, when it learns the details of that action. We have a great surprise in store for our enemies!”
Stewart, glancing at his companion, noted with alarm the flash of excitement in her eyes. Would she push her questioning too far—would she be indiscreet; but the next instant he was reassured.
“It is most fascinating,—this puzzle!” she laughed. “I shall watch the papers for the fall of Lille. But I am very ignorant—I do not even know where Lille is.”