But before Mrs. Varney could answer, the soldiers Arrelsford had brought with him gave way before the advent of a sergeant and another party of men. The Sergeant advanced directly to Mrs. Varney, touched his cap to her, and began:
“Are you the lady that lives here, ma’am?”
“Yes, I am Mrs. Varney.”
“I have an order from General Randolph’s office to search this house for——”
“Just in time,” said Arrelsford, stepping toward the Sergeant; “I will go through the house with you.”
“Can’t go through on this order,” said the Sergeant shortly.
“You were sent here to——” began Mrs. Varney.
“Yes; sorry to trouble you, ma’am, but we’ll have to be quick about it. If we don’t find him here we’ve got to follow him down Franklin Street; he’s over this way somewhere.”
“Who are you? What do you want?”
“Man named Thorne, Captain of Artillery,” answered the Sergeant; “that’s what he went by, at least. Here, two of you this way! That room in there and the back of the house. Two of you outside,” pointing to the windows. “Cut off those windows. The rest upstairs.”