"Yes, I read those newspaper articles with a good deal of interest. And
my brother--"
"Yes, your brother--he is the best fellow in the world!"
She mused, but a smile of real mirth now played over her face and lighted
her eyes.
"Those are generous words, Mr. Armitage. My brother warned me against you
in quite unequivocal language. He told me about your match-box--"
"Oh, the cigarette case!" and he held it up. "It's really mine--and I'm
going to keep it. It was very damaging evidence. It would argue strongly
against me in any court of law."
"Yes, I believe that is true." And she looked at the trinket with frank
interest.
"But I particularly do not wish to have to meet that charge in any court
of law, Miss Claiborne."
She met his gaze very steadily, and her eyes were grave. Then she asked,
in much the same tone that she would have used if they had been very old
friends and he had excused himself for not riding that day, or for not
going upon a hunt, or to the theater:
"Why?"
"Because I have a pledge to keep and a work to do, and if I were
forced to defend myself from the charge of being the false Baron von
Kissel, everything would be spoiled.
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