The girl accepted the apology with a slight inclination of her head. Her mother said nothing.
"You struck me, sir," he said, "and under different conditions I would demand satisfaction. But in this case, you acted very properly. I would have done the same in your place."
He bowed to Chester, who lowered his revolver and slowly returned it to its holster.
This was the moment for which the treacherous German had been waiting. Suddenly he whipped out his own revolver.
But Hal, too, had been on the alert. A peculiar look in the German’s eye had warned the lad that the man was bent on mischief. Therefore, Hal’s revolver flashed forth a second sooner than that of Chester’s enemy.
The German obeyed. There was nothing else for him to do. His head dropped, and a guilty flush crept over his face. Hal stepped forward and picked up the man’s revolver, which he stowed safely in his own pocket.
"I thought you betrayed your true characteristics when you insulted these ladies," said Hal. "I am sure of it now. I shall make it my business to see that this matter is reported to the proper authorities. You may go now."
Without a word, and followed by his companion, the German turned and strode toward the door. As he would have passed out, he stopped suddenly and brought his heels together and saluted sharply. His companion did likewise.
A moment later a figure in the uniform of a German general of infantry stepped into the room. He halted just inside the door, as he took in the situation about him. The others still stood as they had when Chester’s opponent had left them, and the general realized instantly that something was amiss. Hal and Chester saluted as the general strode across the room without so much as a glance at them, and addressed the mother.
"That man insulted me, father," she said, indicating Chester’s erstwhile foe, and in a few brief words she told how Chester had come to her assistance.
The general saluted Chester, then Hal in turn.
"I will talk with you later, sirs," he said. "Right now I have other business."
He strode across the room to where the young German officers stood, awaiting permission to take their departure. Straight the general went to the man who had accosted his daughter, stopped close to him, raised his right arm and brought his open palm stingingly across the other’s face.