he cigarette ease.
What I said was,"--continued Chauvenet,--"'Allow me, Baron!'"

"Well spoken!" exclaimed the Spanish officer.

"Not so well, either," laughed Chauvenet. "He had the best of it--he's a
clever man, I am obliged to admit! He said--" and Chauvenet's mirth
stifled him for a moment.

"Yes; what was it?" demanded the German impatiently.

"He said: 'Thank you, waiter!' and put the cigarette case back into his
pocket!"

They all laughed. Then Captain Claiborne's eyes fell upon the table and
rested idly on John Armitage's cigarette case--on the smoothly-worn gold
of the surface, on the snowy falcon and the silver helmet on which the
bird poised. He started slightly, then tossed his napkin carelessly on
the table so that it covered the gold trinket completely.

"Gentlemen," he said, "if we are going to show ourselves at the
Darlington ball we'll have to run along."

Below, in the coat room, Claiborne was fastening the frogs of his
military overcoat when Armitage, who had waited for the opportunity,
spoke to him.

"That story is a lie, Claiborne. That man never saw me or my cigarette
case in Berlin; and moreover, I was never at Bar Harbor in my life. I
gave you some account of myself on the _King Edward_--every word of it
is true."

"You should face him--you must have it out with him!" exclaimed
Claiborne, and Armitage saw the conflict and uncertainty in the officer's
eyes.

"But the time hasn't come for that--"

"Then if there is something between you,"--began Claiborne, the doubt now
clearly dominant.

"There is undoubtedly a great deal between us, and there will be more
before we reach the end."

Dick Claiborne was a perfectly frank, outspoken fellow, and this hint of
mystery by a man whose character had just been boldly assailed angered
him.

"Good God, man! I know as much about Chauvenet as I do about you. This
thing is ugly, as you must see. I don't like it, I tell you! You've got
to do more than deny a circumstantial story like that by a fellow whose
standing here is as good as yours! If you don't offer some better
explanation of this by to-morrow night I shall have to ask you to cut my
acquaintance--and the acquaintance of my family!"

Armitage's face was grave, but he smiled as he took his hat and stick.

"I shall not be able to satisfy you of my respectability by to-morrow
night, Captain Claiborne. My own affairs must wait on larger matters."

"Then you need never take the trouble!