“The whole matter has reached an acute pass, General Mifflin; a great many of our citizens demand to know the facts, and I thought that perhaps——”
The cold voice of Mifflin interrupted:
“But why have you selected me as the one best calculated to give you information? I have not been with the main command; and the fact is, I know nothing, except by hearsay.”
“But you know the man; you were with him at the first, were you not?”
“I was an aide when he first was made what he is. But the candid fact is that I was never attracted by him, and therefore gave him little attention, save in the way of duty.”
Again there was a silence; then the other spoke once more:
“I am sorry that this is the case. I had hoped that you would be of much assistance to us in coming to a proper knowledge of the situation.”
“I can tell you nothing that any one could not tell you,” insisted Mifflin.
“What are the prospects for an immediate action?” asked the second man, after a moment.
“So far as I can learn—excellent.”