tched his head and looked doubtfully at Langdon.

"Guess you're asking me some kind of a question, sah?"

"I am. Who art thou? Whence comest thou, Sir Knight of Nubia? Bearest
thou upon thy person some written token, or, as you would say in your
common parlance, what's your business?"

"Oh, I see, sah. Yes, sah, I done got a lettah from Mr. Theophilus
Moncrieffe. That's the owner of this house, and I belong to him.
I'se Caesar Moncrieffe. Here's the lettah, sah."

He handed a folded paper to Harry, who opened and read it. It was
addressed to the chief of whatever officers might be occupying his house,
and it ran thus, somewhat in the old-fashioned way:

SIRS AND GENTLEMEN:

The bearer of this is Caesar Moncrieffe. He and his ancestors have been
servants of my family and my ancestors in the State of Virginia for
more than two hundred years. He is a good man, as were his father and
grandfather before him. He will not steal unless he should think it
for his benefit or yours. He will not lie unless convinced of its
necessity. He will work if you make him.

All of his impulses are good, and though he will strenuously deny it at
first, he is about the best cook in the world. Knowing the scarcity of
nutritious food in the army, I have therefore sent him to you with what
I could gather together, in order that he might cook you a dinner worthy
of Christmas. Put him to work, and if he disobeys, shuffles or evades
in any manner, hit him over the head with anything that you can find
hard enough or heavy enough to make an impression.

Wishing the Army of Northern Virginia the continued and brilliant
success that has attended it heretofore,

I remain,
Your most obedient servant,
THEOPHILUS MONCRIEFFE.

"Ah, Sir Knight of the Dark but not Rueful Countenance, thou art doubly
welcome!" said Happy Tom, now thrice-happy Tom. "It is a stout and
goodly horse from which thou hast dismounted, and I see that he yet
carries on his back something besides the saddle. But let me first
speak to my Lord Talbot, our real commander, who is within."

Caesar did not wholly understand, but he saw that Langdon meant well,
and he grinned. Happy Tom rushed toward Colonel Talbot, who stood
before the fire with Lieutenant-Colonel St. Hilaire.

"Colonel Talbot! Colonel Talbot, sir!" he exclaimed.

"What is it, Thomas, my lad? You appear to be excited