Lord! I had been a fool.

The woman had played with me as though I were a mere child; had been laughing at me all night; and doubtless intended now to hand me over prisoner to this squad of gray-jackets.

Billie! The very person I was seeking; the only one who could hope to get through after all others had failed.

And I had supposed "Billie" was a man, never once thinking of the name as a pet feminine one of the South.

The realization of all this confused me so that I missed a part of what was being said, and only aroused as the man spoke more sharply.
"That's all right, of course; I understand what brought you here, but where is that fellow you had with you ?" "Who ?" it was an indignant voice.
"Oh, you understand, Miss Innocence," a slight sneer in the utterance.
"There was a man in your company when you arrived, dressed as a Yank.
Moran told me so.