Goylan was back in Judenbach. It was four in the afternoon. He had searched everywhere for Peter Mowbray. The whole war zone was getting blacker and blacker to his sight. He had even gone to the Grim House to look for the white-fire creature who had taken his companion to her breast, figuratively speaking; but neither she, nor the weak-shouldered little chap who had brought the hospital 's blouse, was there. There remained Dabnitz, who more than any other was aware generally of what passed. Big Belt returned to headquarters and waited. Darkness was thickening before the came in.  
“Where's Mowbray?”
 
Dabnitz came close and looked at the other sorrowfully.
 
“How long have you known Mr. Mowbray?”
 
Boylan tried to think. His were at large. According to facts he had known Peter (and not at all intimately) during a ten weeks before the column left Warsaw. Facts, however, hadn't anything to do with the reality. Peter Mowbray was his own property. He said as much, his voice going back on him.
 
“Mr. Boylan, I have seldom been more hard hit. He was my friend, too. A more charming and young American would be hard to find, but we who are out for service, a life and death matter for our country, must not let these things enter. Mr. Mowbray is in various ways with our enemies—not the Austrians, but enemies more subtle and .”
 
“For God's sake—Dabnitz!”
 
“I thought it would hurt you.”
 
“You might just as well say it of me.”
 
“Not at all. Your record stands. It was well known to us when you were accepted to accompany our column. You will recall that it was your estimate of Mr. Mowbray's superior that us to accept the younger man—”
 
“I have been with Mowbray night and day. He is a newspaper man, brain and soul—one of the coolest and most effective I have ever met. He has been for years in Paris and Berlin, before Warsaw.”
 
“I am sorry. You did not know that he caught a young surgeon by the throat this morning, when the former was very properly a ?”
 
“I did not. But a personal matter ought not to weigh against a man's life—”
 
“You did not know that he was seen in somewhat extended conversation yesterday and last evening with one of the most dangerous of our recent discoveries among the revolutionists?”
 
“I did not.”
 
“Or that a woman came to him last night, in the heart of the night—and talked long—and was called for by the same revolutionist; that Mr. Mowbray went to her a little after daybreak this morning—”
 
“Ah, Dabnitz—a little romance! All night he was serving in the hospital. I went out to find him this morning, and saw him turn into the house. Following, I saw him there.... He had probably never seen her until last night. You know how some young fellows are. They—you turn around—and they are in an affair—”
 
“But the two were overheard to speak of days in Warsaw together. It is not such a little affair.”
 
“I know ............