"Don't talk of going away, I've only just come," laughed Chisholm. "'Pon my word, Douglas, this seems like old times. I can almost imagine myself back in Paris, the chestnut trees in blossom, which remind me of the Parc Monceau, help the illusion. And there's another illusion"--nodding his head toward Eleanor Thornton, who stood at some distance talking to two staff officers--"or, I should say, a _delusion_." He smiled gayly, but there was no answering smile on Douglas' face. Not noticing his companion's silence, the Englishman added, "Is she still hunting around looking up old files and records?" Douglas started as if stung. "I don't know," shortly. "A dangerous habit," commented Chisholm calmly. "If Miss Thornton had not left Paris and gone to Berlin when she did, her interest in government affairs might have led to serious trouble--for her." "Now, what the devil do you mean?" demanded Douglas hotly. Chisholm turned and regarded him steadily for a second, then his monocle slipped down and dangled from its silken cord. "There, there," he exclaimed soothingly. "Don't get your rag up, I was only spoofing." "You have very rudimentary ideas of humor," growled Douglas, still incensed. In his heart he knew the Englishman was right; Eleanor Thornton was an enigma. Dare he penetrate the mystery, or was he afraid to face the issue? Chisholm laughed good-naturedly. "Miss Thornton is looking at you, Douglas; don't let me detain you. I'll see you again before I leave here." Douglas hesitated. "I'll be back soon, Chisholm," he said and walked across the lawn to join Eleanor. The Englishman looked after him with speculative eyes. "Still touched in that quarter," he muttered, twirling his blond mustache in his fingers. "Too bad, Douglas is such a bully good chap, and she----" he was not allowed to indulge in more reflections, as he was seized upon by a bevy of pretty girls and forced to dance attendance upon them for the remainder of the afternoon. Recollections of his last interview with Eleanor troubled Douglas. How would she greet him? His doubts were soon put at rest, for at his approach Eleanor put out her hand and greeted him warmly. The two staff officers, who were introduced to Douglas, saw they were _de trop_, and, after a few minutes, made their excuses and departed. "Will you have an ice or sandwich?" inquired Douglas. "Neither, thanks; I have already been helped." "Then suppose we stroll down to the fountain. We can't hear the Marine Band with all this chatter," and he glanced disgustedly at the joyous crowd about them. Eleanor laughed. "Don't be hard on your fellow creatures, if you are out of sorts." "What makes you think that?" "You looked so cross when talking to Captain Chisholm. I am sorry you found your topic of conversation so boring." "What do you mean?" "You both glanced so frequently at me that I naturally concluded I was under discussion."