still more tightly under the scant reddish mustache. With a
gesture of impatience he lifted his military hat and passed a hand
over the auburn hair which flamed above his white forehead. His
slim figure stiffened even as his face became more stern. Clad in
the full regimentals of his rank, he made a not unmanly figure as
he stood there, though hardly taller than this splendid woman whom
he addressed--a woman somewhat reserved, mocking, enigmatic; but,
as he had said, charming. That last word of description had been
easy for any man who had seen her, with her long-lashed dark eyes,
her clear cheek just touched with color, her heavy dark hair
impossible to conceal even under its engulfing bonnet, her wholly
exquisite and adequate figure equally unbanished even by the trying
costume of the day. She stood erect, easy, young, strong, fit to
live; and that nature had given her confidence in herself was
evidenced now in the carriage of head and body as she walked to and
fro, pausing to turn now and then, impatient, uneasy, like some
caged creature, as lithe, as beautiful, as dangerous and as
puzzling in the matter of future conduct. Even as he removed his
cap, Carlisle turned to her, a man's admiration in his eyes, a
gentleman's trouble also there.

[Illustration: Carlisle turned, a man's admiration in his eyes]

"My dear Countess St. Auban," said he, more formally, "I wish that
you might never use that word with me again,--jailer! I am only
doing my duty as a soldier. The army has offered to it all sorts
of unpleasant tasks. They selected me as agent for your
disappearance because I am an army officer. I had no option, I
must obey. In my profession there is not enough fighting, and too
much civilian work, police work, constable work, detective work.