"Why, how supremely ridiculous; I can hardly believe it true, only your
face tells me you certainly are not in play. Lieutenant Brant, I have
never even dreamed of such a thing. You had informed me that your
mission was one of peace, and he pledged me his word not to permit any
quarrel. I had the utmost confidence in you both."
"How, then, did she even know of our meeting?"
"I am entirely in the dark, as mystified as you," she acknowledged,
frankly, "for it has certainly never been a habit with me to betray the
confidence of my friends, and I learned long since not to confide
secrets to Miss Spencer."
Apparently neither cared to discuss the problem longer, yet he remained
silent considering whether to venture the asking of those questions
which might decide his fate. He was uncertain of the ground he
occupied, while Miss Naida, with all her frankness, was not one to
approach thoughtlessly, nor was the sword of her tongue without sharp
point.
"You speak of your confidence in us both," he said, slowly. "To me the
complete trust you repose in Mr. Hampton is scarcely comprehensible.
Do you truly believe in his reform?"
"Certainly. Don't you?"
The direct return question served to nettle and confuse him. "It is,
perhaps, not my place to say, as my future happiness does not directly
depend on the permanence of his reformation. But if his word can be
depended upon, your happiness to a very large extent does."
She bowed. "I have no doubt you can safely repose confidence in
whatever he may have told you regarding me."
"You indorse, then, the claims he advances?"
"You are very insistent; yet I know of no good reason why I should not
answer. Without at all knowing the nature of those claims to which you
refer, I have no hesitancy in saying that I possess such complete
confidence in Bob Hampton as to reply unreservedly yes. But really,
Lieutenant Brant, I should prefer talking upon some other topic. It is
evident that you two gentlemen are not friendly, yet there is no reason
why any misunderstanding between you should interfere with our
friendship, is there?"
She asked this question with such perfect innocence that Brant believed
she failed to comprehend Hampton's claims.
"I have been informed that it must," he explained. "I have been told
that I was no longer to force my attentions upon Miss Gillis."
"By Bob Hampton?"