"Lieutenant Paine," said the Major, "I take pleasure in presenting you to Mademoiselle Vaubaun. Mademoiselle, this is Lieutenant Paine, of His British Majesty's service."
"I must correct you, major," said Hal, smiling and acknowledging the introduction. "Lieutenant Paine, U.S.A."
"Oh—o!" said the major. "So you are fighting with your own countrymen at last, eh?"
"I am, thank goodness," said Hal. "But can this indeed be Mademoiselle Vaubaun? I have heard of her before, but I judged that she was a young woman."
Major Derevaux smiled.
"And a consummate actress," he said. "Mademoiselle, will you grant my friend the lieutenant a look at your true self?"
"If this young man is a friend of yours, Raoul, he is a friend of mine," said the woman.
She removed a cap from her head, straightened herself up and shook down her hair. Then she passed a hand several times over her face, and when Hal looked again there stood before him a girl in her teens.
"Great Scott!" exclaimed Hal, and started back.
In a few words he now explained his own presence in the German lines, together with that of Chester and the four Canadians.