"What's going on?"
"The colonel is going to make some arrests. About fifteen or twenty Union-shriekers will find themselves snapped up before they think of it. Stackridge among the first. 'Twas he, confound him! that helped the schoolmaster off."
"Has the colonel orders to make the arrests?"
"No, but he takes the responsibility. It's a military necessity, and the government will bear him out in it. Every man that has been known to drill in the Union Club, and has refused to deliver up his arms, must be secured. There's no other way of putting down these dangerous fellows," said Augustus, running his jewelled fingers through his curls.
"But why do you prefer to be away when the fun is going on?"
"There may be somebody's name in the list on whose behalf I might be expected to intercede."
"Not old Villars!" exclaimed Lysander.
"Yes, old Villars!" laughed Augustus,—"if by that lively epithet you mean to designate your venerable father-in-law."
"By George, though, Gus! ain't it almost too bad? What will folks say?"
"Little care I! Old and blind as he is, he is really one of the most dangerous enemies to our cause. His influence is great with a certain class, and he never misses an opportunity to denounce secession. That he openly talks treason, and harbors and encourages traitors arming against the confederate government, is cause sufficient for arresting him with the others."