Her last words struck him as ominous. How often he had heard a similar phrase on French battlefields just before a futile sortie. He seized her hand, held it a trifle too long, perhaps, and murmured, lamely, "Thank you." Then, as she was swept away by her first dancing partner, Forrester slipped through the window to the lawn. After that few minutes of delightful nearness to her he did not want to dance. To hold another girl to him now would seem like sacrilege. He was glad that he had neglected to place his name on any dance cards. "She’s _some_ girl, ain’t she, Mr. Forrester?" whispered a gruff voice at his side, and romance fled at the sight of the prosaic Green. The thought that this rough man was to spy upon the girl who had just left his side was revolting to Forrester in his present mood. He had the comforting feeling, however, that it was for her own good. If she had entangled herself in some way with these people he would save her! "That’s the girl you must keep an eye on, Green. And," instructed Forrester, "see that she is protected also. If anything happens to her tonight you’ll have to answer to me." "I getcha," assented Green. "You don’t want them bulls to beat you to a capture." "What’s the plot?" called a cheerful voice, and the two men turned quickly to find Prentice close at hand. "I thought you were dancing by this time," said Forrester. "Haven’t danced for years," returned Prentice. "I came out to have a quiet smoke, and just spotted you fellows with your heads together." "This is my body-guard, Detective Green," stated Forrester. "Looks like an able-bodied protector," laughed Prentice. "But I suppose you won’t need him after tonight." Then he added, throwing his cigarette away, "Think I’ll go in. You’ll be back, won’t you, Bob?" "I hope to return if all goes well." "Remember my advice—get away from the tree if there is going to be a battle. See you later," and Prentice strolled in through the window Forrester had recently left. "Ten o’clock!" exclaimed Green, consulting his watch. "Gee, you swells eat late. Better start, hadn’t you?" "I think I will," decided Forrester. "There’s just about time to walk over, instead of using the car." Green watched Forrester until he disappeared in the darkness, then strolled over to a large tree which commanded a view of all the windows on that side of the house. If any other person contemplated leaving the dance Green was sure they would try to slip out of one of these windows, selecting that way as the one least likely to attract attention. In the deep shadow under the tree the detective appeared a part of the trunk against which he leaned.