He hesitated an instant in his reply, feeling that possibly he was treading upon thin ice.  But her eyes commanded a direct answer, and he yielded to them.

“We were informed that you experienced great anxiety for fear we might quarrel,—­so great, indeed, that you had confided your troubles to another.”

“To whom?”

“Miss Spencer.  She came to us ostensibly in your name, and as a peacemaker.”

A moment she sat gazing directly at him, then she laughed softly.

“Why, how supremely ridiculous; I can hardly believe it true, only your face tells me you certainly are not in play.  Lieutenant Brant, I have never even dreamed of such a thing.  You had informed me that your mission was one of peace, and he pledged me his word not to permit any quarrel.  I had the utmost confidence in you both.”

“How, then, did she even know of our meeting?”

“I am entirely in the dark, as mystified as you,” she acknowledged, frankly, “for it has certainly never been a habit with me to betray the confidence of my friends, and I learned long since not to confide secrets to Miss Spencer.”

Apparently neither cared to discuss the problem longer, yet he remained silent considering whether to venture the asking of those questions which might decide his fate.  He was uncertain of the ground he occupied, while Miss Naida, with all her frankness, was not one to approach thoughtlessly, nor was the sword of her tongue without sharp point.

“You speak of your confidence in us both,” he said, slowly.  “To me the complete trust you repose in Mr. Hampton is scarcely comprehensible.  Do you truly believe in his reform?”

“Certainly.  Don’t you?”

The direct return question served to nettle and confuse him.  “It is, perhaps, not my place to say, as my future happiness does not directly depend on the permanence of his reformation.  But if his word can be depended upon, your happiness to a very large extent does.”

She bowed.  “I have no doubt you can safely repose confidence in whatever he may have told you regarding me.”

“You indorse, then, the claims he advances?”

“You are very insistent; yet I know of no good reason why I should not answer.  Without at all knowing the nature of those claims to which you refer, I have no hesitancy in saying that I possess such complete confidence in Bob Hampton as to reply unreservedly yes.  But really, Lieutenant Brant, I should prefer talking upon some other topic.  It is evident that you two gentlemen are not friendly, yet there is no reason why any misunderstanding between you should interfere with our friendship, is there?”

She asked this question with such perfect innocence that Brant believed she failed to comprehend Hampton’s claims.

“I have been informed that it must,” he explained.  “I have been told that I was no longer to force my attentions upon Miss Gillis.”