The break was too much even for Armitage's presence of mind. He jerked his head upward, then collecting himself resumed his expression of amused interest. The secretary made no attempt to dissemble her agitation. "I am so sorry," she said, "but you must know now that I know whom you are." Never in his life had Jack felt quite so ill at ease, or so utterly foolish. "Who else knows?" he asked lamely. "Only one, beside myself--Mrs. Wellington." "Mrs. Wellington!" "Naturally," said Miss Hatch placidly. "Did you suppose for a moment you could successfully hide anything from her? Chief Roberts was in the house an hour after you were employed." "Oh!" A great white light illumined Jack's mind. He turned to the woman eagerly. "Do you know what Roberts told her?" "Why, everything, I imagine," said Miss Hatch, laughing. "Everything! But what?" Armitage gestured impatiently. "Please don't think me inquisitive, but I must know--it will depend upon what our loquacious chief said, whether I stay here one more minute." "The chief was not loquacious," smiled Miss Hatch. "He was quite the reverse. You would have enjoyed the grilling Mrs. Wellington gave him. He was no willing witness, but finally admitted you were a naval officer, a son of Senator Armitage, and that you were here to observe the actions of one of the grooms, formerly in the Navy, whom the Government thought needed watching." Inwardly relieved, Armitage grinned broadly. "I like that chief," he said. "He is so secretive. But Mrs. Wellington can't be pleased at having a Navy man masquerading about. Why hasn't she discharged me?" "I can't imagine," said Miss Hatch frankly, "unless--yes, I think she has taken a liking to you. Then, for a woman of her mental processes, discharging you off-hand, come to think of it, would be the one thing she would not do. I think she is interested in awaiting developments. I am sure of it, for she commanded me to speak to no one concerning your identity." "Miss Wellington?" Armitage looked at the woman quickly. "Her daughter was very particularly included in the orders Mrs. Wellington gave." Armitage made no attempt to conceal the pleasure this statement gave him. Then a thought occurred to him. "By the way," he said, looking at Miss Hatch keenly, "if I recall, you said you could not imagine why I am here. In view of all you have told me, why could n't you?" Miss Hatch turned and walked toward the door. At the sill she glanced back over her shoulder and smiled significantly. "Oh, that was an introductory figure of speech," she said. "I think, I think I can--imagine." Then she turned and walking along the hall, with Armitage following, she sang as though to herself: "In days of old when knights were bold And barons held their sway, A warrior bold with spurs of gold Sang merrily his lay. 'Oh, what care I though death be nigh, For love--'" But Armitage had disappeared.