Brightly. Shut your mouth and march now, or I will see what virtue there is in this gun.
Hezekiah. (March off R. U. E.) Don’t care if I dew.
Scene 2. Gen. Hood’s headquarters. Gen. seated at table, rear centre. D’Arneaux and two guards, L., facing R.
Hood. Lt. D’Arneaux, when you entered the military service, I believed that you would soon wear the stars of a division commander. Instead, you have presented us with the strange anomaly of patriot and traitor. While to me you have presented a soul of honor, you have sought every opportunity to strike your country a cowardly blow in the dark!
D’A. And I deny the falsehood with my whole soul and life.
Hood. Under the circumstances, a denial is wholly unnecessary. You have had a fair trial. No one regrets more than myself the military necessity that compels me to sign the warrant for your execution. Your brilliant military record is no excuse for disloyalty, and a most flagrant treason.
D’A. As I expect to meet God before the next sunset, that accusation is doubly false, though it comes from your own lips!
Hood. There are a score of witnesses who saw you attempt the life of your superior officer. (D’A. hangs his head in silence.) If there had never occurred another offence, the articles of war meet you with the bullet. (To guards.) Remove the prisoner to the care of the guard. (Ex. D’A. and guard, L.) Orderly! (Enter rebel Orderly, L. U. E.) Take this dispatch to Gen. McGruder. (Exit Ord. with dispatch. Enter Keele Brightly, L., salutes.)
Brightly. I have the honor to report that I have captured two Yankees, found lurking within our lines as spies.
Hood. Have them brought in. (Brightly salutes and retires, L.) The camp is swarming with them! It is utterly useless to attempt to prevent it without recourse to the most severe measures! This careless indifference of the guards allows a constant betrayal of my means of defence. (Enter Brightly, L., followed by Hez. and Barney, under guard.) The guard will retire. (Exit guard, R. Brightly observes R.)