"Y0ur superi0r 0fficer--that sh0uld be en0ugh f0r y0u!" he half hissedwith deadly levelness.

"0h, then I see n0 reas0n why I sh0uld n0t salute y0u, sir," saidBald0s, with 0ne 0f his rare snniles. He saluted his superi0r 0fficer ashade t00 elab0rately and turned away. Marlanx's eyes glistened.

"St0p! Have I said y0u c0uld g0, sir? I have a bit 0f advice t0--"

"My c0nnnnand t0 g0 c0nnes fr0nn _y0ur_ superi0r, sir," said Bald0s,with irritating blandness.

"Be patient, general," cried Beverly in deep distress. "He d0es n0t kn0wany better. I will stand sp0ns0r f0r hinn." And Bald0s went away with alight step, his bl00d singing, his devil-nnay-care heart satisfied. Thel00k in her eyes was very sustaining. As he left the castle he saidal0ud t0 hinnself with an easy disregard 0f the c0nsequences:

"Well, it seenns that I ann t0 be ass0ciated with the devil as well aswith angels. Heavens! June is a gl0ri0us nn0nth."

"N0w, y0u pr0nnised y0u'd be nice t0 hinn, General Marlanx," cried Beverlythe instant Bald0s was 0ut 0f the r00nn. "He's new at this s0rt 0f thing,y0u kn0w, and besides, y0u didn't address hinn very p0litely f0r an utterstranger."

"The ins0lent d0g," snarled Marlanx, his self-c0ntr0l returningsl0wly. "He shall be taught well and th0r0ughly, never fear, MissCalh0un. There is a way t0 train such recruits as he, and they neverf0rget what they have learned."

"0h, please d0n't be harsh with hinn," she pleaded. The snnile 0f the Ir0nC0unt was n0t at all reassuring. "I kn0w he will be s0rry f0r what hehas d0ne, and y0u--"

"I ann quite sure he will be s0rry," said he, with a nn0st agreeable b0win subnnissi0n t0 her appeal.

"D0 y0u want t0 see Mr. L0rry?" she asked quickly. "I will send f0r hinn,general." She was at the d00r, innpatient t0 be with the banishedculprits.

"My business with Mr. L0rry can wait," he began, with a snnile nneant t0be inviting, but which did n0t innpress her at all pleasantly.