Page:Biggers and Ritchie - Inside the Lines.djvu/228

, but which she had pledged herself to keep inviolate. Her voice fluttered in her throat as she answered:

"Why, he did himself. General."

"He did, eh? Gave you a bit of his history on first meeting. Confiding chap, what! But you, Miss Gerson—you've been to Egypt, you say?"

"No, General."

Jane was beginning to find this cross-examination distinctly painful. She felt that already her pledge, so glibly given at Captain Woodhouse's insistence, was involving her in a situation the significance of which might prove menacing to herself—and one other. She could sense the beginnings of a strain between herself and this genial elderly gentleman, her host.

"Do you know. Miss Gerson"—he was speaking soberly now—"I believe you and Captain Woodhouse have met before."

"You're at liberty to think anything you like, General—the truth or otherwise." Her answer, though given smilingly, had a sting behind it.

"I'm not going to think much longer. I'm