"Well, isn"t that information sufficient?"
The gallant captain again smothered an oath, evidently tried to the limit by the girl"s cool indifference.
"Of course it isn"t. That might answer for Moran, for he has no personal interest in the affair. But it"s altogether different with me. It"s merely accident that I rode in here this morning, and I immediately discover the woman I am engaged to marry was out all night riding around with a stranger, eating breakfast with him when I arrive. Do you suppose that is pleasant?"
"No; yet my explanation ought to be sufficient."
"Explanation! You have made none."
"Oh, yes; Judge Moran told you the circ.u.mstances."
I heard him stomp roughly across the floor, his spurs clanking.
"Explanation, nothing! Who is the fellow?"
"Really I don"t know."
"Don"t know? Do you mean to say you rode with him alone all night, and took breakfast with him this morning, without even learning his name?"
"He said his name was Galesworth, but I don"t know that he told the truth."
"You pretend indifference well," the man sneered.
"It is no pretence; I am indifferent. Why should I be otherwise? I am not interested in spies. I may a.s.sist one through the lines to serve the Confederacy, but that is no evidence that I feel any personal interest in the man. Anyhow that is the extent of my knowledge in this case, and I haven"t the slightest desire to increase it. When are you going to ride on?"
"Not until I know more than I do now," he retorted savagely. "There is something hidden here. You are pretending all this indifference so as to give that fellow sufficient time to get away. I"m d.a.m.ned if I put up with it."
"Captain Le Gaire," and she was upon her feet, "do you venture to address such language to me? Do you dare--"
"I am no dupe of yours or of any other woman," he broke in, too angry now to restrain his words. "There is something wrong here, and I mean to know what it is. If you won"t tell, I"ll find out myself." He strode across to the window and called to some one below. "Slade, come in here."
There was a moment of waiting, during which neither stirred, nor spoke.
Then the trooper entered, his heels clicking together as he saluted just within the doorway.
"Sergeant," said Le Gaire shortly. "I have reason to suspect there is a man hidden in that room yonder. I"ll keep an eye on this young lady, while you find out."
Slade took a step forward, and the girl"s dress rustled.
"Wait just a minute, Sergeant," she said briefly. "Am I to understand from this, Captain Le Gaire, that you are not only a bully, but also a coward?"
"A coward!--"
"Yes, a coward. You order the sergeant to open that door--why do you not open it yourself?"
He laughed rather unpleasantly.
"So that"s the trouble? Well, it"s merely a way we have in the army, but if it will greatly oblige you I"ll do the job."
It was useless waiting longer; the room offered me no possible hiding-place, the two windows looked down on the waiting cavalrymen.
Beyond doubt boldness was the best card to play. Before the rather reluctant captain could take a second step I flung open the concealing door, and came forth into the breakfast room.
CHAPTER VII
A WOMAN"S PRISONER
The scene before me, the expression on the three faces, caused me to smile. I came forth with no definite plan of action, trusting, as one must at such times, wholly to luck. There was no means of escape apparent, yet my mind was cool, and I was prepared to take advantage of any opportunity. I saw the flash of the sergeant"s revolver, the captain"s sudden recoil, his hand tugging at his sword-hilt, and glimpsed something in the depths of Billie"s eyes that puzzled me.
"Good-morning, gentlemen," I said easily.
So far as Slade was concerned it was evident that all he saw was the uniform, his revolver instantly covering me, held in a hand steady as rock; he even grinned amiably across the barrel. But the expression on Le Gaire"s face changed from startled surprise to relief. He was a tall man, with dark hair and eyes, a black moustache shading his lip, and his hand fell from the hilt of the sword as he took an uncertain step toward me.
"Drop that gun-play, Sergeant," he exclaimed sharply. "This man _is_ all right; I know him."
Too astounded myself for speech, I could only stare back into the captain"s face, seeking vainly to recall ever having seen the fellow before. Not the slightest recollection came to me, but Le Gaire blundered on, blinded by his discovery.
"Didn"t know you had gone into this sort of thing," he exclaimed cordially, holding out his hand. "Last I heard your regiment was in New Orleans. Don"t remember me, do you?"
I shook my head, so completely puzzled by this unexpected turn of affairs that speech became dangerous. Perhaps he would give me some clue to my new ident.i.ty, which would enable me to carry out the masquerade.
"Your face is familiar," I ventured, "but--"
"Oh, no excuses," he broke in cordially. "I was a guest at your mess one night when we were garrisoning Memphis. I am Le Gaire, of the Third Louisiana. I sang you fellows some French songs, you may remember."
"Oh, yes!" and my face visibly brightened, as I grasped his fingers, wondering who the devil I might be, yet exceedingly overjoyed at this sudden change of fortune. "We had a gay night of it. I wonder you recognize me in these rags."
"Well, I don"t suppose I should," he exclaimed, "only you happened to be pointed out to me specially that evening. It was just after your duel with Major Gillette of ours. Between us, I don"t mind admitting I was glad you punctured that fellow--it saved me the trouble."
"Perhaps if you gentlemen are through with reminiscences," broke in the girl quietly, "Captain Le Gaire might present me to his new friend."
"But I thought you knew him already!"
She laughed lightly, her eyes aglow with merriment.
"Oh, no, indeed! It is all a most wonderful mix-up."
"Then it will be a pleasure for me to bring order out of confusion--Miss Hardy, Major Atherton of General Pemberton"s staff."
"Atherton!" she gasped. "I--I thought your name was Galesworth."
"Hardy!" I retorted, simulating equal surprise, "and I supposed your name to be Gray."
Le Gaire looked at us, vastly amused, all his former jealousy and suspicion instantly dissipated by this evidence of misunderstanding.
"You certainly must have had a merry night of it, you two--trying to outlie each other, and with honors about even. However, the tangle is straightened out now, and we must be on our way. What are you trying to do, Atherton,--get to the rear of the Yanks?"
"Yes," I answered, with some hesitation, and glancing aside at the girl.
I could not determine how much of all this she actually believed, or how far I might venture to carry forward the deceit. Her eyes were upon me, but their shaded depths revealed nothing. I determined to take the chance. "Johnston requires more exact information as to the Yankee artillery, and thought I might get in around the right flank. I saw a dust cloud across the river as we came into town."