"Poor Lacy!" said Sempland. "Well, sir, he died the death of his choice."
"Yes," said Beauregard, "little in life became him as the ending of it."
A little silence fell between the two in the room.
"And I might have been there," said Sempland at last.
"I had rather see you dead, sir, than in your present case," commented the general, deftly.
"Yes, sir, and I'd rather be there myself," returned the young man, "but I—I beg your pardon, General, were they successful?"
"In a measure. They missed the Wabash, but blew up the Housatonic."
"Did the cotton ships get out?"
"Unfortunately, no. One of them was sunk. The other two returned in safety. But all this is beside the question. We are losing sight of the main point. For the last time, will you tell me why you failed to be on hand?"
"General Beauregard, as I said, I would rather be where Lacy is now than have failed as I did, but I cannot tell you what detained me"