ed of this, that and the other quite freely
and easily--of the society news, of the presence of Miss Franks at the
wedding, of the splendor of it all. Indeed, there was nothing to
indicate more than a company of old-time friends.

"I am ready to take my charges along with me," announced Anderson at
length.

"Hush! Not so loud," cautioned Arnold. "Later,--in the park, we shall
treat of that."

Then the servants came again and removed the dishes. After another
goblet of Madeira they left the table, going immediately out of doors,
for it was now dusk.

"I can do no more with the recruiting. I have in round numbers, an
hundred," Anderson began when they had been seated in the cypress walk.
The moon was not yet half way to the zenith and lay a dull copper color
in the eastern sky, partially eclipsed by the chimney of the great
house. A solemn silence, terrifying and rife with mysterious sensations,
seemed to pervade the place. It was a setting well fitted to shroud deep
and dark designs. No one would dare to venture near.

"You have done well. Egad! I know of none who could have done better."

"Yet it was no easy task, I assure you. They thrill with the very spirit
of rebellion. Cadwalader will never forgive me, and will haunt me when
he dies."

"You got him?" Arnold asked.

"I did. But I had to take proceedings against him which portended the
stocks. I promised him a wheelbarrow to be pushed every day in the
resolution of his debt. Only when I had the jailer at hand did he
reconsider. The debt has been paid, and he has already signed."

"I am glad you got him. He's a Papist, isn't he?" inquired Peggy.

"He is, and a staunch one at that," replied her husband.

"Let's get down to business," interrupted Anderson. "How soon may your
vessel sail?"

"This week, or the early part of next," replied Arnold. "I drew the pass
three weeks ago. With the time for clearance and sailing allowed, she
should be ready now. You had better make an allowance of a week."

"How about the crew?"

"They can be depended upon. They are beholden to her owner. Have no
fears concerning them."

"How soon may she clear?"

He was persistent in this.

"In a few days. Tomorrow if pressed."

"I want to get through with this business as soon as I can and get out
of this town. It may get too hot for me. If I had that meeting off my
mind and the men on board bound for New York I would enjoy greater
repose."

"I thought you were never app