"It's the American idea. What people would suffer by having its army intelligent?"
Lawson coughed significantly. "Bring forth the black-swathed axe—treason has upreared her head."
It was plain that Brisbane was lying in wait for him. Curtis whispered to Elsie:
"Rescue me! Your father is planning to quiz me, and I must not talk before I report to the department."
"I understand. We will go to my studio after dinner." And with Lawson's aid she turned the conversation into safe channels.
It was a very great pleasure to the young soldier to sit once more at such a board and in pleasant relation to Elsie. It was more than he had ever hoped for, and he surprised her by his ability to take on her interests. He grew younger in the glow of her own youth and beauty, and they finished their ices in such good-fellowship that Mrs. Wilcox was amazed.
"We will slip away now," Elsie said, in a low tone to Curtis, and they both rose. As they were about to leave the room Brisbane looked up in surprise. "Where are you going? Don't you smoke, Captain? Stay and have a cigar."
Elsie answered for him. "Captain Curtis can come back, but I want him to see my studio now, for I know if you get to talking politics he will miss the pictures altogether."
"She has a notion I'm growing garrulous," Brisbane retorted, "but I deny the charge. Well, let me see you later, Captain; there are some things I want to discuss with you."
"Grace, you are to come, too," Elsie said to her girl friend, and led the way out into the hall.