She revealed her identity in order to justify her proposed clandestine meeting with you." "And hence you requested this pleasant conference," broke in Hampton, coolly, "to inform me, from your calm eminence of respectability, that I was no fit companion for such a young and innocent person, and to warn me that you were prepared to act as her protector." Brant slightly inclined his head.
"I may have had something of that nature in my mind." "Well, Lieutenant Brant," and the older man rose to his feet, his eyes still smiling, "some might be impolite enough to say that it was the conception of a cad, but whatever it was, the tables have unexpectedly turned.

Without further reference to my own personal interests in the young lady, which are, however, considerable, there remain other weighty reasons, that I am not at liberty to discuss, which make it simply impossible for you to sustain any relationship to Miss Gillis other than that of ordinary social friendship." "You--you claim the right--" "I distinctly claim the right, for the reason that I possess the right, and no one has ever yet known me to relinquish a hold once fairly gained.

Lieutenant Brant, if I am any judge of faces you are a fighting man by nature as well as profession, but there is no opportunity for your doing any fighting here.

This matter is irrevocably settled--Naida Gillis is not for you." Brant was breathing hard.

"Do you mean to insinuate that there is an understanding, an engagement between you ?" he faltered, scarcely knowing how best to resent such utterance.
"You may place your own construction upon what I have said," was the quiet answer.