"

She proceeded with the story of what she had witnessed in the
dining-room. There was no appeal on Hugo's account. Appraising the
qualities of the Marta of the moment in contrast with the Marta of
seventeen and the Marta of three weeks ago, Westerling was significantly
conscious of her attitude of impartiality, free of any attempt at
feminine influence, and of her evident desire to help him with the facts
that she knew.

"The charge of assault is only incidental," said Westerling. "But Mallin
was in the right about his comrades entering the house; right about the
destruction of property. It is our business to protect property, not
only as a principle but as a matter of policy. We do not desire to make
the population of the country we occupy unnecessarily hostile."

"I judged that from your kindness in repairing the damage done to ours,"
she assured him, and added happily: "Though I don't suppose that you go
so far in most cases as to set uprooted plants back in their beds."

"No; that is a refinement, perhaps," he answered, laughing. She was not
only more agreeable but also more sane than at the hotel. He liked the
idea of continuing to despatch his work while retaining her company. "I
must have a talk with Mallin," he said. "I must settle his case so that
if similar cases arise subordinates will know what to do without
consulting me. Would you mind if I sent for him?" He reached for the
bell to call an orderly.

"Yes, I should like to hear what he says to you and what you say to
him," she confessed with unfeigned interest, which brought a suggestion
that he was to be put on trial before her at the same time as Mallin was
on trial before Westerling. His fingers paused on the bell head without
pressure. "I told him that you were a just man," she remarked, "that any
one would be certain of justice from you."

He rang the bell; and after he had sent for Mallin, warming under the
compliment of her last remark, he dared a reconnaissance along the line
of inquiry which he had wanted to undertake from the first.

"Mallin's ideas about war seem to be a great deal like your own," he
hinted casually.

"As I expressed them at the hotel, you mean!" she exclaimed. "That seems
ages ago--ages!" The perplexity and indecision that, in a space of
silence, brooded in the depths of her eyes came to the surface in
wavering lights. "Yes, ages! ages!" The wavering lights grew dim with a
kind of horror and she looked away fixedly at