Again Kate blushed, which was exactly what the Admiral hoped would be the result of his speech. Still, the girl seemed suspicious about something, so the old gentleman began to talk of something else with his customary ability. While he was talking, a waiter from the hotel approached and handed him a telegram.
"Kindly excuse me a moment?" said the Admiral, adjusting his glasses and opening the envelope. Then he glanced at the dispatch and exclaimed:
"Good!"
"May we congratulate you upon something?—the thanks of Congress, or a new war?"
"Better still. The business upon which Jermyn and I went North has been satisfactorily concluded. Will you kindly excuse me a few moments, until I can write a letter? I will do myself the honor of rejoining you."
"There is probably some secret government business in the hands of the Admiral and the Lieutenant," suggested Harry.
"Secret nonsense! It is something which is mixed up in some way with the strange manner of Trif and Fenie, and the Admiral must simply tell what it is."
Meanwhile the old gentleman was re-reading the dispatch, which was as follows:
"That letter is in proper hands. Jermyn."