She made a quick, graceful gesture: "Why do you say that, when here you are before me, the exact and exciting counterpart of the reckless and fasci—— the reckless and interesting men you write about?"
He said nothing. She closed the parasol and considered him in silence for a moment or two. Then:[94]
"And I have no doubt that you are capable of doing the very things that your heroes do so adroitly and so charmingly."
"What, for example?" he asked, reddening to his temples.
"Reconstructing armies, for instance."
"Filibustering?"
"Is that what it is called?"
"It's called that in the countries south of the United States."
"Well, would you not be capable of overturning a government and of reconstructing the army, Mr. Smith?"
"Capable?"