"First there are some questions which I must ask." He bowed slightly and drew himself up.

For a moment it seemed as though they were entering upon a duel--the slight, beautiful woman and the man in rags.
"Just now," she began, "you told us that you saw Major Felstead, my brother, fifty-six hours ago." "That is so," he assented.
"But it is impossible!" she pointed out.

"My brother is a prisoner of war in Germany." "Precisely," he replied, "and not, I am afraid, under the happiest conditions, he has been unfortunate in his camp.

Let us talk about him, shall we ?" "Are you mad," Helen demanded, "or are you trying to confuse us ?" "My dear young lady!" he protested.

"Why suppose such a thing?
I was flattering myself that my conversation and deportment were, under the circumstances, perfectly rational." "But you are talking nonsense," Philippa insisted.