"Oh, not at all--not at all!" answered the major, obviously ill pleased, however, and already nettled that, against all precedent, certain of the Apache prisoners had been ordered turned out as late as 10 P. M. for interview with the agent. It would leave him alone, too, for as much as half an hour, and the very air seemed surcharged with intrigue against the might, majesty, power, and dominion of the post commander. Byrne, a soldier of the old school, might do his best to convince the major that in no wise was the confidence of the general commanding abated, but every symptom spoke of something to the contrary. "I should like, too, to see Dr. Graham to-night," said the official inquisitor ere he quitted the piazza to go to Wren's next door. "He will be here to meet you on your return," said Plume, with just a bit of stateliness, of ruffled dignity in manner, and turned once more within the hallway to summon his smiling Chinaman. Something rustling at the head of the stairs caused him to look up quickly. Something dim and white was hovering, drooping, over the balustrade, and, springing aloft, he found his wife in a half-fainting condition, Elise, the invalid, sputtering vehemently in French and making vigorous effort to pull her away. Plume had left her at 8.30, apparently sleeping at last under the influence of Graham's medicine. Yet here she was again. He lifted her in his arms and laid her upon the broad, white bed. "Clarice, my child," he said, "you _must_ be quiet. You must not leave your bed. I am sending for Graham and he will come to us at once." "I _will_ not see him! He _shall_ not see me!" she burst in wildly. "The man maddens me with his--his insolence." "Clarice!" "Oh, I mean it! He and his brother Scot, between them--they would infuriate a--saint," and she was writhing in nervous contortions. "But, Clarice, how?" "But, monsieur, no!" interposed Elise, bending over, glass in hand. "Madame will but sip of this--Madame will be tranquil." And the major felt himself thrust aside. "Madame must not talk to-night. It is too much." But madame would talk. Madame would know where Colonel Byrne was gone, whether he was to be permitted to see Captain Wren and Dr. Graham, and that wretch Downs. Surely the commanding officer must have _some_ rights. Surely it was no time for investigation--_this_ hour of the night. Five minutes earlier Plume was of the same way of thinking. Now he believed his wife delirious. "See to her a moment, Elise," said he, breaking loose from the clasp of the long, bejeweled fingers, and, scurrying down the stairs, he came face to face with Dr. Graham. "I was coming for you," said he, at sight of the rugged, somber face. "Mrs. Plume--" "I heard--at least I comprehend," answered Graham, with uplifted hand. "The lady is in a highly nervous state, and my presence does not tend to soothe her. The remedies I left will take effect in time. Leave her to that waiting woman; she best understands her."