of my information! Isn't that like
a woman!" she exclaimed. "You see, it did not concern me at all at the
time I heard it. I didn't even realize its importance and I didn't hear
much," she proceeded, her introduction giving time for improvisation.
"You see, Partow was inspecting the premises with Colonel Lanstron. My
mother had known Partow in her younger days when my grandfather was
premier. We had them both to luncheon."

"Yes?" put in Westerling, betraying his eagerness. Partow and Lanstron!
Then her source was one of authority, not the gossip of subalterns!

"And it occurs to me now that, even while he was our guest," she
interjected in sudden indignation--"that even while he was our guest
Partow was planning to make our grounds a redoubt!"

"Bully! Very feminine and convincing!" whispered the voice of Feller.

"After luncheon I remember Partow saying, 'We are going to have a look
at the crops,' and they went for a walk out to the knoll where the
fighting began."

"Yes! When was this?" Westerling asked keenly.

"Only about six weeks ago," answered Marta.

"That's it! That's splendid! If you'd said a year ago there would have
been time enough in the meanwhile to fortify!" whispered the voice of
Feller encouragingly. "You're going fine! Keep it up!"

"Later, I came upon them unexpectedly after they had returned," Marta
went on. "They were sitting there on that seat concealed by the
shrubbery. I was on the terrace steps unobserved and I couldn't help
overhearing them. Their voices grew louder with the interest of their
discussion. I caught something about appropriations and aeroplanes and
Bordir and Engadir, and saw that Lanstron was pleading with his chief.
He wanted a sum appropriated for fortifications to be applied to
building planes and dirigibles. Finally, Partow consented, and I recall
his exact words: 'They're shockingly archaically defended, especially
Engadir,' he said, 'but they can wait until we get further
appropriations in the fall.'" She was so far under the spell of her own
invention that she believed the reality of her words, reflected in her
wide-open eyes which seemed to have nothing to hide.

"That is all," she exclaimed with a shudder--"all my eavesdropping, all
my breach of confidence! If--if it--" and her voice trembled with the
intensity of the one purpose that was shining with the light of truth
through the murk of her deception--"it will only help to end the
slaughter!" She held out