She was not only too clumsy and inexperienced, but she totally lacked the self-restraint of a spy.

Her nervous agitation in the lane was due to something more disturbing than his mere possible intrusion upon her confidences with the mulatto.

The significance of her question, "Then it IS war ?" was at best a threat, and that implied hesitation.

He recalled her strange allusion to his wife; was it merely the outcome of his own foolish confession on their first interview, or was it a concealed ironical taunt?
Being satisfied, however, that she was not likely to imperil his public duty in any way, he was angry with himself for speculating further.

But, although he still felt towards her the same antagonism she had at first provoked, he was conscious that she was beginning to exercise a strange fascination over him.
Dismissing her at last with an effort, he finished his work and then rose, and unlocking a closet, took out a small dispatch-box, to which he intended to intrust a few more important orders and memoranda.