"You misunderstood," he broke in stiffly. "I was on the point of saying I hoped you would not always believe me a----" "Not believe!" Her hand went to the broad ribbon belt she wore and brought out the silver cigarette case. This she passed to him with a swift gesture. "Almer, the Hotel Splendide man, gave me this to-day at parade, urging that I deliver it to you." She was speaking hurriedly. "By a miracle--the strangest circumstance in the world--I learned the message this cigarette case was to carry to you. Oh, no, innocently enough on my part--it came by a chance I must not take the time to explain." "A message from--Almer to me?" Woodhouse could not conceal the start her words gave him. He took a step toward her eagerly. "Yes, a message. You must have it to protect yourself. The message was this: "Informer has denounced you and Louisa to----" Her voice died in her throat. Over Captain Woodhouse's shoulder she saw a door open. General Crandall and a short fat man in officer's uniform entered the library. CHAPTER XV THE THIRD DEGREE "Good afternoon, Captain Woodhouse." General Crandall came forward and shook the captain's hand cordially. "Miss Gerson, Major Bishop, of my staff." Jane acknowledged the introduction. Major Bishop advanced to the meeting with Woodhouse expectantly. With an air of ill-assumed ease, the governor made them known to each other. "Major Bishop, your new man in the signal tower, Captain Woodhouse, from Wady Halfa. Captain, do you happen to remember the major? Was a captain when you were here on the Rock--captain in the engineers." "I'm afraid we never met," Woodhouse began easily. "I was here such a short time. Expected to meet Major Bishop when I reported at his office this morning, but he was over at the wireless station, his aid told me." "Right, Captain!" Bishop chirped, shaking his subordinate's hand. "I--ah--imagine this is the first time we've met." He put the least shade of emphasis on the verb. Woodhouse met his eyes boldly. Lady Crandall, bustling in at this minute, directed a maid where to wheel the tea wagon, while Jane went to assist her with the pouring. The men soon had their cups, and the general and major contrived to group themselves with Woodhouse sitting between them. Sir George, affecting a gruff geniality, launched a question: "Rock look familiar to you, Captain?" "After a fashion, yes," Woodhouse answered slowly. "Though three months is so short a time for one to get a lasting impression." "Nonsense!" the general reproved gustily. "Some places you see once you never forget. This old Rock is one of them; eh, Bishop?" "I don't know," the chunky little officer replied. "The powers back home never give me a chance to get away and forget." There was a pause as the men sipped their tea. Woodhouse broke the silence: "Man can be stationed in worse places than Gibraltar." "If you mean Egypt, I agree with you," Crandall assented. "There six years."