"It was all a mistake," she insisted. "Captain Masterson no doubt only did his duty when presented with the statements of the secret service man; that the statements were incorrect was something Captain Masterson could not, of course, know, and she appreciated the fact that, being a foreigner, she was, in his opinion, possibly, more likely to be imposed upon by servants who were not so loyal to the South as she herself was known to be." All this she said in kindly excuse, and Mrs. McVeigh thought her the most magnanimous creature alive. Her only anxiety over the entire affair appeared to be concerning her maid Louise, who, also, was suffering the suspicion attaching to foreigners who were non-residents; it was all very ridiculous, of course, but would necessitate her going personally to Savannah. She could not leave so faithful a creature in danger. Mrs. McVeigh prevailed upon her to send word with Mr. Pierson to the authorities, and remain herself for two days longer--until Kenneth and his men left for the front, which Judithe consented to do. Masterson, who for the first time in his life found the McVeighs lacking in cordiality to him (Evilena, even, disposed to look on him as dead and buried so far as she was concerned), felt his loyal heart go out to Gertrude, who was the only one of them all who frankly approved, and who was plainly distressed at the idea of him going at once to join his company. "Don't go, Phil," she said, earnestly; "something is wrong here--terribly wrong; I can't accuse anyone in particular--I can't even guess what it really means, but, Phil," and she glanced around her cautiously before putting the question, "What possible reason could Madame Caron and Captain Monroe have for pretending they met here as strangers, when it was not a fact?" Whereupon Gertrude told him of her discovery in that direction. "I can't, of course, mention it to Kenneth or Mrs. McVeigh, now," she whispered; "they are so infatuated with her, Kenneth in particular. But I do hope you will put aside your personal feelings; make any and every sort of apology necessary, but remain right here until you see what it all means. You may prove in the end that you were not entirely mistaken today. What do you think of it?" Think! His thoughts were in a whirl. If Madame Caron and Captain Monroe were secretly friends it altered the whole affair. Monroe, whose conduct on arrest was unusual; who had a parole which might, or might not, be genuine; who had come there as by accident just in time to meet Pierson; who had been in the room alone with Pierson before Madame Caron came down the stairs--he knew, for he had been in sight when she crossed the hall. He had been a fool--right in theory, but wrong as to the individual. He would remain at the Terrace, and he would start on a new trail!