. Still the
expression of his eye, though piercing, was not bad, and his voice,
though deep and powerful, was far from unpleasant. Frances ventured to
throw a timid glance at his figure as he entered, and saw at once the
man from whose scrutiny Harvey Birch had warned them there was so much
to be apprehended.

[Footnote 42: very great.]

"You have no cause for alarm, ladies," said the officer; "my business
will be confined to a few questions, which, if freely answered, will
instantly remove us from your dwelling.

"Has there been a strange gentleman staying with you during the
storm?" continued the dragoon, speaking with interest.

"This gentleman--here--favored us with his company during the rain,
and has not yet departed."

"This gentleman!" repeated the other, turning to Captain Wharton. He
approached the youth with an air of comic gravity, and, with a low
bow, continued, "I am sorry for the severe cold you have in your head,
sir."

"I!" exclaimed the captain, in surprise; "I have no cold in my head."

"I fancied it, then, from seeing you had covered such handsome black
locks with that ugly old wig. It was my mistake; you will please to
pardon it."

Mr. Wharton groaned aloud; but the ladies, ignorant of the extent of
the visitor's knowledge, remained in trembling yet rigid silence. The
captain himself moved his hand involuntarily to his head, and
discovered that the trepidation of his sisters had left some of his
natural hair exposed. The dragoon watched the movement with a
continued smile, when, seeming to recollect himself, turning to the
father, he proceeded:

"Then, sir, I am to understand there has not been a Mr. Harper here
within a week?"

"Mr. Harper," echoed the other; "yes--I had forgotten; but he is gone,
and if there be anything wrong in his character, we are in entire
ignorance; to me he was a total stranger."

"You have little to apprehend from his character," answered the
dragoon, dryly; "but he is gone--how, when, and whither?"

"He departed as he arrived," said Mr. Wharton, gathering renewed
confidence from the manner of the trooper, "on horseback last evening,
and he took the northern road."

The officer listened with intense interest, his countenance gradually
lighting with a smile of pleasure, and the instant Mr. Wharton
concluded his laconic[43] reply he turned on his heel and left the
apartment. In a few moments orders were given to some of the troop,
and horsemen left th