That she is an orphan is generally known, sir." There was a dead silence for a few moments.

The colonel leaned back in his chair and pulled his moustache.

Paul turned away his eyes, and seemed absorbed in reflection.

After a moment the colonel coughed, pushed aside his glass, and, leaning across the table, said, "I have a favor to ask of you, Mr.Hathaway." There was such a singular change in the tone of his voice, an unexpected relaxation of some artificial tension,--a relaxation which struck Paul so pathetically as being as much physical as mental, as if he had suddenly been overtaken in some exertion by the weakness of age,--that he looked up quickly.

Certainly, although still erect and lightly grasping his moustache, the colonel looked older.
"By all means, my dear colonel," said Paul warmly.
"During the time you remain here you can hardly help meeting Miss Arguello, perhaps frequently.