“You were good enough to say that you would receive me,” he answered. “If I may come, then, I will.”
“My brother has shown me in the English papers some of the things which you have written about Theos,” she continued. “I cannot tell you what pleasure they gave me. It is a wonderful gift, yours, Mr. Brand. When one reads one seems to see a picture of the whole place. You have written wonderfully of your adventures here.”
“And yet,” he said, in a low tone, “the adventure here which was most interesting to me, which I shall never forget so long as I live, I have not written about at all. It is for the memory only.”
Again their eyes met. He was very bold, this Englishman. Yet though her eyebrows were slightly raised she did not rebuke him.
“I think, perhaps,” she said, “that we had better obey the royal command.”
She touched her horse with the whip, and they galloped up the hillside. Ughtred watched them closely as they rode up. He made room for Marie by his side. Brand had perforce to fall behind. They talked together eagerly of the manœuvres. The girl was thoroughly well versed in the situation.
“I believe from the south,” she said, “that Theos is unassailable. If only we had more heavy guns for the passes.”
“You have seen the new battery?” Ughtred asked.
She nodded.