“Very well, Abel,” replied the lady.
Mr. Force got out, handed down his wife and the young ladies, and escorted them into the hotel.
They found the earl and his two nieces in the parlor. The two girls started up with the question:
“What news?”
“No very definite news,” replied their father; “but your mamma will tell you all we have learned. I am going to the office of the commissioner of prisoners, to see if I can meet Le. If I can, I will wait until he is at leisure, and bring him here. Enderby, would you like to go with me and see what it is?”
“Very much,” replied the earl.
And the two men went out together. They entered the carriage, which was driven off immediately.
It was but a short drive, and in less than ten minutes the carriage drew up, and the gentlemen alighted.
Capt. Grandiere climbed down from his seat, and the three entered the building together.
The place had once been a commodious dwelling house, but was now, like many others of the finest mansions in Washington, taken for the service of the government. A sentinel was on guard before the door. Mr. Force spoke a few words to him, and passed on with his party. He entered a front hall, and thence through a door on the right they passed into a large front room, furnished with seats all around its walls, and a long table at its back, with chairs behind it, and folios and stationery on its top. Two or three men in uniform sat behind this table, while all around the room, on the benches against the walls, sat a rough-looking score of men guarded by soldiers. There was another door on the right of the long table, and opening into a rear room. A sentinel or janitor stood at that door.