“We will assume nothing of the kind!” ejaculated the Ambassador sharply. “It is impossible.” Then to Captain Claiborne: “You must pardon me if I do not explain further. I wish to find Armitage; it is of the greatest importance. It would not aid you if I told you why I must see and talk with him.”
And as though to escape from the thing of which his counsel had hinted, Baron von Marhof took his departure at once.
Shirley met her brother on the veranda. His arrival had been unheralded and she was frankly astonished to see him.
“Well, Captain Claiborne, you are a man of mystery. You will undoubtedly be court-martialed for deserting—and after a long leave, too.”
“I am on duty. Don’t forget that you are the daughter of a diplomat.”
“Humph! It doesn’t follow, necessarily, that I should be stupid!”
“You couldn’t be that, Shirley, dear.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
They discussed family matters for a few minutes; then she said, with elaborate irrelevance:
“Well, we must hope that your appearance will cause no battles to be fought in our garden. There was enough fighting about here in old times.”