ired him
to question me, was too strong to be thrown aside.

"Did--did Mistress Mortimer help you escape from Philadelphia?" he asked
bluntly.

"That is entirely my affair. Why don't you ask the lady herself?"

"See here, damn you!" he burst out. "I haven't seen the lady. When I got
back to the dining-room she was gone, and then I was ordered out here.
But you knew you were being sought after, and I cannot imagine who else
told you."

"You do not exhibit very great faith in the lady--the daughter of a
loyalist."

He drew a quick breath, suddenly aware that he had gone too far.

"It is your sneaking spy methods, not the girl. She is innocent enough,
but I suspect you dragged the truth out of her. Now see here!" and his
voice took on the tone of a bully. "You are in power just now, but you
won't always be. You can't hold me prisoner; not with these ragamuffins.
They'll turn us loose as soon as they loot those wagons. I know how they
work in the Jerseys. But first I intend to tell you something it will be
worth your while to remember. Claire Mortimer is going to be my wife--my
wife. War is one thing, but if you interfere in my personal affairs
again, I am going to kill you."

"Indeed," smilingly. "Is Mistress Mortimer aware of the honor you are
according her?"

"She is aware of the engagement, if that is what you mean. It has been
understood since our childhood."

"Oh, I see; a family arrangement. Well, Grant, this is all very
interesting, but I am unable to conceive what I have to do with it. I met
Mistress Mortimer by accident, and then was fortunate enough to dance
with her once. 'Tis scarcely likely we shall ever meet again. The
daughter of a colonel of Queen's Rangers is not apt to come again into
contact with an officer of the Maryland Line. I don't know why you should
single me out in this matter. I don't even know the lady's brother."

"Her brother?"

"Yes, the family renegade; the twin brother on Lee's staff."

I could not perceive the expression of the man's face, but he was a long
while answering.

"Oh, yes. She told you about him?"

"It was mentioned. Would I know the boy from any resemblance to his
sister?"

"Y--yes, at least I should suppose so. You must have become very intimate
for her to have told you that. You see it--it is a family secret."

"Nothing for Tories to boast over, I should imagine. However, it came up
naturally enough while we spoke of the sufferings of the American army