“Then you will have to show him, I can tell you that, Mr. Arrelsford.”
“I shall be glad to give my reason to my superiors, Miss Mitford, not to you.”
“Then you will have to go around giving them to everybody in Richmond, Mr. Arrelsford,” said the girl, as she swept petulantly through the door, followed by old Martha, both of whom were very much disturbed by what had occurred.
CHAPTER XII
THORNE TAKES CHARGE OF THE TELEGRAPH OFFICE
Arrelsford stared after the departing figures with a mixture of amusement, contempt, and annoyance in his glance. So soon as the door had closed behind them he turned to Lieutenant Foray, who was regarding him with ill-concealed aversion.
“Let me have that despatch,” he began in his usual peremptory manner.
“You said you had an order, sir,” returned Foray stubbornly.
“Yes, yes,” replied the Secret Service Agent impatiently, throwing an order on the table, “there it is, don’t waste time.”
But Lieutenant Foray was not satisfied, principally because he did not wish to be. He scrutinised the order carefully, and with great distaste at its contents. It was quite evident that if he could have found a possible pretext for refusing obedience, he would gladly have done so. His sympathies were entirely with Miss Mitford.
“I suppose you are Mr. Benton Arrelsford, all right?” he began deliberately, fingering the paper.