We both went forward to the head of the stairs." "You overheard what was said ?" I interrupted, a new possibility dawning upon me.
"Much of it, yes," he admitted.
"The plan of attack ?--the orders sent me ?" His expression answered.
"And what were you going to do with this information, Major Hardy ?" "Nothing.

I considered myself a prisoner on parole.

I merely proposed asking your permission to leave the house with my daughter before hostilities began.

I started down the stairs for that purpose." "And Billie ?" "I told her this, and sent her to her room after some things.

Before I got down you had disappeared, and I returned up stairs.