“This is a military inquiry, Mrs. Gray. You will answer my questions directly. Why were you awarded the decorations you are wearing?”
Grace’s face hardened ever so little, and Elfreda looked for an explosion, but none came.
“If you will pardon me, I must be excused from answering. The records will show why I am wearing them. General Gordon knows something of this matter. May I ask why you are pressing me on this point, sir?”
“You may. It has been said that you were wearing decorations to which you had no right. This is a very serious accusation, Madame.”
Grace caught her breath sharply.
“Then the person who told you that either was misinformed or was telling a malicious falsehood,” she declared with some heat, fixing a steady look on Mrs. Chadsey Smythe.
“You see, Captain! The woman is an impertinent creature,” interjected Mrs. Smythe.
The captain waved a hand for her to be silent.
“I will attend to that phase of the matter later on. You wrecked an automobile to-day and imperilled the lives of your passengers. I am informed that previous to the accident you had been driving recklessly, doing so with the intent to intimidate your passenger, and at the same time endangering other lives. Is this true?”
“I was driving rather fast, I will admit, sir.”