“I don’t know, not having seen her since early morning, sir. I wish to make a confession to you, and now is the proper time to do so. I feel that I took an inexcusable advantage of you yesterday in telling you of my supervisor’s shortcomings in her presence. Mrs. Chadsey Smythe was the woman I referred to, and she was in the car when I told you the story. She also, of course, heard you express your opinion of her. I owe you an apology, General, but do not see how you can overlook what I did.” General Gordon laughed heartily. “No apology is necessary. I knew that it was she to whom you referred. Even had I not known it, her face would have told me. I expressed myself as I did, partly for her own good. I take it that she hasn’t been driving with you to-day?” “No, sir. She preferred to drive with some one else. When do we reach the Rhine, if I may ask, sir?” “Four or five days hence. We could do it in much less time, but the enemy is moving slowly, and you know we cannot hurry him, much as we should like to. Things have been moving smoothly thus far, but I am of the opinion that we shall meet with little friendliness after we cross the Moselle. So you ladies hiked through to-day, eh?” 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.” “What led up to it? Had you any conversation with Mrs. Smythe last evening?” “Not last evening. I had this morning. It was this way, sir. I went to her headquarters and tried to get her to see the matter in a right light and at the same time to warn her that I could tolerate no further insults from her. I should prefer to say nothing about it, for I do not like to talk behind a person’s back, much preferring to speak out when that person is present and can answer.”