It was Ruthine's voice that broke the silence, giving Jem time to master himself.
"It is to his credit," he said, also addressing Dora, "that for very shame he did not dare to tell you that he had sent Agar on a mission which was as unnecessary as it was dangerous. When he sent him he must have known that it was almost a sentence of death."
Then Jem spoke again.
"As soon as I got back to civilisation," he said, "I wrote to him as arranged, and I enclosed letters to--the three persons who were admitted into the secret. Those letters have, of course, never reached their destination. General Michael will be required to explain that also."
At this moment Arthur Agar gave a strange little cackling laugh, which drew the general attention towards him. He was looking at his half-brother, with
