Grace for the instant was staggered. She found herself at a loss to answer. “Sir?” He repeated the question, but more sharply accentuated than before. “With all respect, sir, your question carries with it an inference not at all creditable to me.” Elfreda Briggs was proud of Grace. She could not have said it better herself, and being a lawyer, Elfreda ordinarily was quite equal to making the retort courteous. The face of the army officer hardened, but before he could reply, Grace continued. “The decorations, sir, were awarded to me, one by the commander-in-chief and the other by the French Government.” “For what?” “I have frequently asked myself that very same question, sir,” replied the Overton girl. “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.” “Why?” “Mrs. Smythe ordered me to do so, and accused me of being afraid to speed up, so I speeded up. That, however, had nothing to do with the accident. At the time of the crash I was following an officer’s car. A truck crowded me against the bridge railing. Understand, sir, I am not excusing myself. In a way I was not wholly blameless for the accident, because I was driving too fast for the crowded condition of the road. So far as intent was concerned, it is foolish to assume that there could have been anything of that sort. I had my own neck to consider as well as those of my passengers.” “How fast were you driving?” “About thirty-five miles an hour, I should say.” “What experience have you had in driving a car?” “I have been driving an ambulance on the western front for many months, sir. Previously to coming overseas I had been driving for several years. I consider myself a fairly successful driver.” “I understand that you have had accidents before this one?”