"
"For the duchess?"
"For the duchess."
"A black business for you, Colonel; take my word for it."
"A black business it is; but orders are orders. Have you ever
been a soldier?"
"I have."
"Well, there's nothing more to be said."
"America--" Maurice began.
"Is several thousand miles away."
"Not if you reckon from Vienna."
"I'd rather not reckon, if it's all the same to you. Your friend--
I might say, your very valuable friend--takes the matter too
much to heart."
"He's not a talkative man."
Fitzgerald looked straight ahead, stern and impassive.
"But now that we are talking," said Maurice, "I should like to
know how the deuce you got hold of my name and dragged me into
this affair?"
"Simple enough. A card of yours was given to me; on it was your
name and address. The rest was easy."
Maurice grew limp in the saddle.
"By George! I had forgotten! The woman is at the bottom of it."
"Quite likely. I thought you'd come to that conclusion.
Sometimes when we play with foxes they lead us into bear traps.
Young man, witness these gray hairs; never speak to strange
women, especially when they wear veils.
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