Packs of fresh cards were brought quickly by a servant, on a silver waiter; the guests helped themselves to the coin and bank notes; in ten minutes they were playing furiously.
As I do not play, I rose and took my leave. Mr. Blocque accompanied me to the door, smiling sweetly to the last.
“Come again very soon, my dear colonel,” he said, squeezing my hand, “my poor house, and all in it, is at your service at all times!”
I thanked my host, shook hands, and went out into the darkness,—determined never to return.
I had had an excellent dinner, and, physically, had never felt better. Morally, I must say, I felt contaminated, for, unfortunately, I had begun to think of Lee’s hungry soldiers, lying in rags, in the Petersburg trenches.
“Eight o’clock! All is well!” came from the sentinel, as I passed by the capitol.
IV. — JOHN M. DANIEL.
On the day after this scene, a trifling matter of business led me to call on John M. Daniel, editor of the Examiner.