"Well, we never met before yesterday, but—"
"You never wrote to her, did you, or to her father?"
"Never, and yet I think there is a matter connected with it all that will require explanation."
"So do I. One of the worst points against the old gentleman is that very bad break he made in claiming that you had been a constant correspondent of his and of his daughter's."
"One of the worst! Why, what is he accused of?"
"Being a rebel spy—not to put too fine a point upon it."
Abbot stands aghast a moment.
"Why, man, it's simply impossible! I tell you, you're all wrong."
"Wish you'd tell my chief that," answers the man, impassively. "I don't like the thing a particle. They've got points up at the office that I know nothing about, and, probably, have more yet, now; for the package of papers was found upon him just as described from Frederick."
"What papers?"