Grace’s face flushed and Elfreda looked amazed.
“Yes, sir, so long as you have mentioned the subject. May I ask how you know?” questioned Grace.
“Our Intelligence Department hears and sees all things,” the general informed her, waving a hand toward Captain Boucher.
“Are you quite positive as to that, General?” returned “Captain” Grace suggestively.
“What do you mean?” demanded the captain, pricking up his ears.
“I was wondering if the Intelligence Department had reason to believe we had spies with us in this army of invasion,” smiled the Overton girl. She observed a quick flash in the eyes of the Intelligence officer, followed by an expression of inquiry there.
“We will be seated now, if you please. Sorry, Mrs. Gray, that we can offer you nothing better than a board to sit on.”
“A board for a seat is luxury compared with what we have had for the last several evenings. Miss Briggs and myself have been dining sitting on a cellar floor,” replied Grace brightly, taking a seat at the right of the general, Elfreda being placed between Captain Boucher and Major Colt on the opposite side of the table.
“To return to your hike, I am very sorry that you did not inform me of the difficulty. Was the action taken without notice to you?”
“Yes, sir.”