fine contempt for the straight thing unaccompanied by some tangible
advantage.

"Who are they?" inquired the General almost affectionately. "Who are your
people?"

Agar walked to the tent door and looked out. There was some clatter of
swords going on outside, and as commander of this post it was his duty to
know all that was passing. He turned, and standing in the doorway, quite
filling it with his bulk, he answered:

"My father died three years ago. I have a step-mother and a step-brother,
that is all--besides friends."

The General stooped to loosen the strap of his spur.

"Of course," he said in that attitude, "I know you are not a married
man."

"No."

Beneath the brim of the helmet, which he had not laid aside, the Jew's
keen black eyes were watching, watching. But they saw nothing; for there
is no one so impenetrable as a man with a clear conscience and a large
faith.

"My idea was," continued General Michael, "that two, or at the most
three, people besides you and I be let into the secret."

"Three," said Agar, with quiet decision.