He had been to Rome to report to the Italian government the result of his efforts to collect damages from the United States for the slaughter of Italian laborers in a railroad strike, and had proceeded thence to England on other professional business.
Dick Claiborne had been ill, and was abroad on leave in an effort to shake off the lingering effects of typhoid fever contracted in the Philippines.

He was under orders to report for duty at Fort Myer on the first of April, and it was now late March.

He and his sister had spent the morning at their brother's school and were enjoying a late _dejeuner_ at the Monte Rosa.

There existed between them a pleasant comradeship that was in no wise affected by divergent tastes and temperaments.

Dick had just attained his captaincy, and was the youngest man of his rank in the service.