Hen. Your sister! I never knew you had a sister!
Reg. No! because that is the skeleton in our family closet. Her name was Alice. When but three months old she was stolen from the cradle. All effort to recover the child proved fruitless. Her disappearance has since remained a mystery. Grief over our loss brought my mother to an early grave. My father sacrificed his all in the hope of recovering the child, but all his efforts proved unavailing. This happened eighteen years ago, and we know not whether she be living or not, but we mourn her as dead.
Hen. And had you no suspicion as to who stole the child?
Reg. None. My father did not think he had an enemy in the world.
Hen. Strange! very strange! The ways of Providence are mysterious, and we must bow with resignation to His Divine Will. One moment, Reginald. [To Adolphus.] Adolphus!
Adol. [Salutes.] Captain, I await your orders.
Hen. Go to the officers’ tent and inquire whether the mail has arrived.
Adol. [Salutes.] All right, Captain! [Exit L. 1 E.]
Hen. [To Coriolanus.] Coriolanus! [Coriolanus rises and salutes.] Take his post as sentinel! [Coriolanus salutes and takes his post. To Reginald.] It is remarkable what a change there is in Adolphus. When I drafted him I thought he would make a poor soldier, he was so cowardly; but he has turned out to be one of the bravest men in the regiment. A soldier’s life has made a man of him.