l the American men I have met I value your friendship
most; yes, it is quite true!" as he uttered a slight exclamation.
"But there are times when even our good angels hamper us, and just now
I am better, much better, alone."

"If I could help you--"

"You could not," she said hastily. "Even without the barrier of the
parole, you could not. But I cannot talk. I am nervous, not myself
today. You saw how clumsy I was when I brought the letter to
show?--and after all did not get to show it. Well, I have been like
that all day. I have grown fearful of everything--distrustful of every
glance. Did you observe the watchfulness of Miss Loring on the lawn?
Still, what does it matter?"

She leaned her head on her hands for a few moments. He stood and
looked at her somberly, not speaking. When she turned towards him
again it was to ask in a very different tone if he would touch the
bell--it was time for Pluto to start with the mail. When he entered
she found that a necessary address book had been left in her own
apartments.

"You get the mail bag while I go for it, Pluto," she said after
tossing the papers about in a vain search; "and Captain Monroe, will
you look over this bit of figures for me? It is an expense list for my
yacht, I may need it today and have a wretched head for business
details of that sort. I am helpless in them."

Then she was gone, and Monroe, with a pencil, noted the amount,
corrected a trifling mistake, and suddenly became conscious that the
grave, most attentive, black man, was regarding him in a manner
inviting question.

"Well, my man, what is it?" he asked, folding up the paper, and
speaking with so kindly a smile that Pluto stumbled eagerly into the
heart of questions long deferred.

"Jes' a word, Mahs Captain. Is it true you been took prisoner? Is it
true the Linkum men are whipped?"

"Well, if they are they don't know it; they are still fighting, any
way."

"If--if they win," and Pluto looked around nervously as he asked the
question, "will it free us, Mahs Captain? We niggahs can't fine out
much down heah. Yo' see, sah, fust off they all tell how the Nawth
free us sure if the Nawth won the battles. Then--then word done come
how Mahsa Linkum nevah say so. Tell me true, Mahs Captain, will we be
free?"

His eagerness was so intense, Monroe hesitated to tell him the facts.
He understood, now, why the dark face had been watching him so
hungrily ever since his arrival.

"The men who make t