d did not
come. She rang again and again; apparently the bell was broken. She
finished dressing and went out into the huge, grandly and gaudily
furnished salon. Harding was at a carved old-gold and lacquer desk,
writing. As she entered he rose and bowed.

"Won't you please call one of the servants?" said she. "I want my
coffee. I guess the bell in my room is broken. My maid doesn't
answer."

"No, the bell is not broken," said Harding.

She looked at him questioningly.

"The general has issued an order that nothing is to be done in this
apartment, and nothing served, unless he personally authorizes it."

Mildred paled, drew herself up in what seemed a gesture of haughtiness
but was an effort to muster her strength. To save herself from the
humiliation of a breakdown before him, she hastily retreated by the way
she had come. After perhaps a quarter of an hour she reappeared in the
salon; she was now dressed for the street. Harding looked up from his
writing, rose and bowed gravely. Said she:

"I am going out for a walk. I'll be back in an hour or so."

"One moment," said Harding, halting her as she was opening the door
into the public hall. "The general has issued an order that if you go
out, you are not to be allowed to return."

Her hand fell from the knob. With flashing eyes she cried, "But that
is impossible!"

"It is his orders," said Harding, in his usual quiet manner. "And as
he pays the bills he will be obeyed."

She debated. Against her will, her trembling hand sought the knob
again. Against her will, her weak arm began to draw the door open.
Harding came toward her, stood before her and looked directly into her
eyes. His eyes had dread and entreaty in them, but his voice was as
always when he said:

"You know him, Mrs. Siddall."

"Yes," she said.

"The reason he has got ALL he wanted--whatever he wanted--is that he
will go to any length. Every other human being, almost, has a limit,
beyond which they will not go--a physical fear or a moral fear or a
fear of public opinion. But the general--he has no limit."

"Yes," she said. And deathly pale and almost staggering she drew open
the door and went out into the public hall.

"For God's sake, Mrs. Siddall!" cried Harding, in great agitation.
"Come in quickly. They are watching--they will tell him! Are you mad?"

"I think I must be," said she. "I am sick with fear. I can hardly keep
from dropping down here in a faint. Yet--"