"I don't think I understand you," returned Lagrange, coldly.

"If you had not been in uniform, you would probably have been shot down
as spies, without the trouble of capture," said Brant quietly.

"Do you mean to imply, sir"--began Lagrange sternly.

"I mean to say that the existence of a Confederate spy between this
camp and the division headquarters is sufficiently well known to us to
justify the strongest action."

"And pray, how can that affect us?" said Lagrange haughtily.

"I need not inform so old a soldier as Colonel Lagrange that the aiding,
abetting, and even receiving information from a spy or traitor within
one's lines is an equally dangerous service."

"Perhaps you would like to satisfy yourself, General," said Colonel
Lagrange, with an ironical laugh. "Pray do not hesitate on account of
our uniform. Search us if you like."

"Not on entering my lines, Colonel," replied Brant, with quiet
significance.

Lagrange's cheek flushed. But he recovered himself quickly, and with a
formal bow said,--

"You will, then, perhaps, let us know your pleasure?"

"My DUTY, Colonel, is to keep you both close prisoners here until I have
an opportunity to forward you to the division commander, with a report
of the circumstances of your arrest. That I propose to do. How soon I
may have that opportunity, or if I am ever to have it," continued Brant,
fixing his clear eyes significantly on Lagrange, "depends upon the
chances of war, which you probably understand as well as I do."

"We should never think of making any calculation on the action of an
officer of such infinite resources as General Brant," said Lagrange
ironically.

"You will, no doubt, have an opportunity of stating your own case to the
division commander," continued Brant, with an unmoved face. "And," he
continued, turning for the first time to Captain Faulkner, "when you
tell the commander what I believe to be the fact--from your name and
resemblance--that you are a relation of the young lady who for the
last three weeks has been an inmate of this house under a pass from
Washington, you will, I have no doubt, favorably explain your own
propinquity to my lines."

"My sister Tilly!" said the young officer impulsively. "But she is no
longer here. She passed through the lines back to Washington yesterday.
No," he added, with a light laugh, "I'm afraid that excuse won't count
for to-day."

A sudden frown upon the face of the elder officer, added to the