always went through John's cuirass. It was all nonsense, for his wife
could not have adored him more openly had he been the twin to Adonis.
But, there you are; a man always wants something he can not have.
John wasn't satisfied to be one of the most brilliant young men in
Washington; he also wanted to be classed among the handsomest.

"By the way, Jack," said my hero, lighting the cigar and blowing the
first puff toward the ceiling, his face admirably set with
nonchalance, "do you know of a family named Annesley--Colonel
Annesley?" I knew it would take only a certain length of time for
this question to arrive.

"Colonel Annesley? Why, yes. He was in the War Department until a
year or so ago. A fine strategist; knows every in and out of the
coast defenses, and is something of an inventor; lots of money, too.
Tall, handsome old fellow?"

"That's the man. A war volunteer?"

"No, a regular. Crippled his gun-fingers in some petty Indian war,
and was transferred to the Department. He was a widower, if my
recollection of him is correct; and had a lovely daughter."

"Ah!" There was great satisfaction evident in this syllable. "Do you
know where the colonel is now?"

"Not the faintest idea. He lived somewhere in Virginia. But he's been
on the travel for several years."

Robert stirred his coffee and took a spoonful--and dropped the spoon.