When they had all lunched the Grandieres and Hedges returned to their lodgings in E Street to rest before dinner. They always went and came under protest, declaring that to sleep in one house and eat in another seemed to them so disorderly as to border on indecency.
But Wynnette always quoted Sancho Panza, reminding them that “Travelers must be content,” especially in war time.
It was dark when at length the three gentlemen returned to the hotel, with Lieut. Force and Roland Bayard in their company.
As they entered the parlor Odalite sprang up with a little cry of joy, given no less to the released prisoner than to her betrothed lover.
“Is it all over? Is Roland quite free now?” she inquired, after she had shaken hands with both the young men.
“Well, no, not quite over, for Roland is detained here in Washington as a witness. Perhaps he will have to go to England as a witness. Find seats, gentlemen. I will tell you all about it, Odalite,” said Mr. Force.
When they were all seated, the squire continued:
“We went from here to the Old Capitol prison, to see this knight, who was going to sacrifice himself upon a hallucination. Never mind that, you will understand by and by. Our friend here was enabled to give Roland the true history of his birth and parentage, being fully acquainted with all the facts and furnished with documents to prove them.”
“And who, then, is he—Roland?” inquired Odalite, with affectionate interest.
“Stay, my dear! Not now! I cannot inform you just yet. You shall know his position presently. Now I wish to tell you how we released Roland. First we told his own story and convinced him that he owed no duty to the impostor who had deceived him. Then we went to the commissioner of prisoners, without much success. Then to the secretary of war, without much more. Finally to the President, who, after hearing what we had to say, signed an order for Roland’s release on parole.”