are we to understand that remark, madame?" asked Overberg,
whose jovial face grew serious.

"That he has left the girl far too much to her own whims and fancies."

"What shall I say, chere amie? He was afraid of her." (It was the
elderly spinster who again began the attack.) "He could roar at his
officers, but he was afraid of a scene with Francis."

"Excuse me for once more contradicting you, miss. Colonel von Zwenken
never roared at his officers--this I know by experience; but it is
true he was conspicuous by his absence when Francis Mordaunt went
into society. He suffered her to go out when she liked, and with whom
she liked. Alas! he sat at the card table in his club whilst Francis
by her thoughtlessness and certain peculiarities in her character,
was rendering herself a victim to calumny and envious tongues."

"Bravo, Captain! it's noble of you to defend the absent."

"I am only sorry I cannot do so without blaming another absent person;
but what I say is known, and well known, in this circle."

"As well known as the eccentricities of Major Frank. Whatever Captain
Sanders may say, we are not making her conduct appear worse than it
is; we are only speaking of it as it struck us at the time."

"That everybody must acknowledge," said an old lady, who had thus far
listened with sparkling eyes. "Only remember what talk her conduct
gave rise to when she met the stranger staying at the 'Golden Salmon,'
by appointment, unknown to the Colonel, who had forbidden the man his
house! Did she not set all our ideas of good breeding at defiance by
walking in the plantation in open daylight with a perfect stranger."

"In fact, I am assured she pawned her diamonds to pay his hotel
bill. She even wished to sell them, for she asked a friend of mine
to buy them."

Overberg's healthy, blooming face turned pale; but he said nothing. The
Captain, however, spoke again--

"It is only too true she would risk all to attain her ends, if she
had once set her mind on a thing."

"And that for a person who went to a third-rate hotel--did not even
give his own name, as it was said afterwards; and who certainly was
a sharper or a coiner."

"If such had been the case, the police would have looked after him
sharp," interposed Overberg.

"That is my opinion also," said the Captain; "and I think Wilibald
Smeekens was right. He said it was some one who had formerly committed
a breach of military discipline, and whom she out of pity wished