But if
you like, you may call on me at my hotel--to-morrow?"
Both recognized a slight additional trace of hauteur in the
deportment of the woman whom they now accosted. She herself saw a
sort of hesitation on the part of Carlisle.
"I can't let you make any mistake about me," he began presently.
"How do you mean?"
"You are probably not advised about me. I'm a person of no
consequence."
"An officer of his country's army can not say that of himself."
"But, I am no longer an officer of any army. I have been
court-martialed--for my conduct there--you know--that fight at St.
Genevieve. My abolitionist tendencies have always made me _persona
non grata_ in my own mess. There's been all sort of pressure
brought on me to drop it. Now the government itself, not wishing
these things to come to a focus, has ordered me to a court-martial.
Very well, I've been sentenced. My parole is ended, for the law
has acted on my conduct. Rather than go back many steps in rank, I
have thrown up my commission.
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