"Nowadays a gentleman who lives by his sword is exposed to that sort of thing." It was then for the first time I heard Mr.Mills laugh.

It was a deep, pleasant, kindly note, not very loud and altogether free from that quality of derision that spoils so many laughs and gives away the secret hardness of hearts.

But neither was it a very joyous laugh.
"But the truth of the matter is that I am '_en mission_,'" continued Captain Blunt.

"I have been instructed to settle some things, to set other things going, and, by my instructions, Dona Rita is to be the intermediary for all those objects.

And why?
Because every bald head in this Republican Government gets pink at the top whenever her dress rustles outside the door.