Von Eichborn wheeled on him.
"Take care!" he said. "I am an officer."
"I judged that you were," Phil replied, with studied politeness.
Von Eichborn stared, frowned. Phil neither stared nor frowned; he smiled.
"What else am I to say?" he added. "I am not used to military customs."
Von Eichborn strolled on into the hall.
"Pleasant place. I think it will do—the best in this neighbourhood, anyway. But I'll go through it."
Henriette rose from her chair as he entered the sitting-room and the aide of General von Stein who thought so well of himself, startled, put up his eye-glass, dropped it, and made a low bow.
"The chateau belongs to Mademoiselle Ribot's mother," Phil explained.
"Most charming place, most charming!" said von Eichborn, speaking French now, while he was looking into Henriette's eyes and smiling.