le day studying
the positions of our troops, and in the evening was a guest at the
Mischianza--Andre gave him a card, I heard--and danced there with your
daughter. I doubted the man from our first meeting, and later picked up
certain rumors which convinced me he was a spy. Some words passed between
us on the dancing floor, and as a consequence I asked the man to meet me
below. Some one either told him he was suspected, or else he had the
heart of a coward, for he failed to appear."

"Did you intend to fight him?"

"No; we planned an arrest. I reported to MacHugh what I had heard, and he
had Carter close at hand with a squad of the guard."

"A very pretty trick on mere suspicion," commented the Colonel in some
disgust. "But go on with your story."

Grant sucked in his breath quickly, evidently surprised at the remark.

"Claire was waiting for me upstairs in the dining-room, but after Carter
had scattered his men to the outposts, I took a turn about the grounds in
hope of thus running across the fellow. Luck favored me, but, damn him,
he jumped into me like a fighting cock, struck me in the face, and
taunted me into meeting him there and then."

"Good boy! the right stuff, eh, Seldon?"

"I supposed it all a bluff," went on Grant, paying no heed to the
interruption, although his cheeks flushed, "but we went at it, behind the
pavilion, and I had pricked him twice, when the guard came up and
separated us. At that the fellow took to his heels, and, by Gad! got
away--swam the Delaware, while we were beating the west shore. The next I
saw of him he was in command of those ragamuffins who attacked us out
yonder. Now he shows up here looting this house on the trail of 'Red'
Fagin. I'd hang him offhand if it was me."

Mortimer looked across at me earnestly, but with an expression of doubt
in his eyes. As for myself I hardly knew what to say, or do. Grant had no
corroborative proof for his assertions, unless I was returned to
Philadelphia. I could emphatically deny that I was the man, insist on my
right to a fair trial. But how could I account in any reasonable way for
my presence at Elmhurst, or even successfully sustain my claim to being a
Continental officer. I could not tell Colonel Mortimer that I had been
taken prisoner by his daughter, masquerading as a lieutenant of dragoons.
Apparently he knew nothing of this escapade, and she would scarcely
forgive me for exposure; besides, for all I knew to the contrary, the
gir