“Nothing important.  The old major fell asleep after the girl left, but the other fellow is pacing back and forth like a caged tiger, and cursing.  He’s asked me some leadin’ questions ‘bout you, an’ where Miss Hardy’s gone.  Were you goin’ in, sir?”

“Yes; you better wait.”

I opened the door, and stepped into the parlor, the sergeant following, evidently anticipating a scene.  The room showed some signs of disorder, the furniture disarranged, and one chair overturned.  Wilson sat in front of the window, the shade of which had been drawn down, and the other guard was near the door.  Both men had their revolvers drawn, and, from their positions, and Le Gaire’s attitude, apparently trouble was anticipated.  He was in the middle of the room, with hands clinched and eyes blazing, and wheeled to face me as I entered.

“Oh, it’s you, is it!” he exclaimed, sudden anger sweeping away every vestige of control.  “I may be a prisoner, but I’ll be damned if I’ll keep still.  This whole affair is an outrage.  What have you done with Miss Hardy?”

“The lady has gone to her own room up stairs, Captain Le Gaire,” I replied courteously enough.

“But not until after seeing you, you sneaking Yankee hound,” he burst forth, striding forward.  “What does this all mean?  What influence have you got over the girl?”

The major sat up suddenly.

“See here, Le Gaire, you leave my daughter’s name out of this.”

The enraged captain favored him with a glance.

“I know more about this affair than you do, Hardy.  This blue-bellied puppy was with Billie before, and I knew there was some infernal scheme on the moment I saw him here to-night.  The girl helped him to get away once before, and there’s some trick being worked off now.”

The older man was upon his feet instantly.

“Hold on there; not another word; whatever my girl has done she is not going to be condemned in my presence without a hearing.”

“Major Hardy,” I broke in, and stepped between them.  “This is my quarrel, and not yours.  Your daughter has done nothing for which she can be criticised.  All her connection with me has been accidental, and during our last interview she merely begged for your release.  When I refused to grant the request, she repudiated her parole, and I locked her in her own room as a prisoner.  I did not even know this was your home, or that Miss Willifred was here, when I came.  When Captain Le Gaire insinuates that there was any arrangement between us he lies.”

“Were you not on the balcony alone, talking together?”

“Yes, she caught me there, by coming out suddenly.”

“And protected you, you coward—­drew us into the trap.”

“Miss Hardy had no knowledge of what I proposed doing, nor that I had any men with me.  Indeed, I myself acted merely on the spur of the moment.”

“What were you sneaking about there in the dark for then?” he sneered.  “You are nothing but a contemptible spy.”