Then he walked thoughtfully back to the presidential mansion.
"You must have found that a most interesting cigar," said Talbot to him when he returned to the house.
"The most interesting one I ever smoked," replied Prescott.
Prescott found himself again with Mrs. Markham and walked with her into one of the smaller parlours, where Mr. Sefton, Winthrop, Raymond, Redfield and others were discussing a topic with an appearance of great earnestness.
"It is certainly a mystery, one of the most remarkable that I have ever encountered," said the Secretary with emphasis, as Prescott and Mrs. Markham joined them. "We are sure that it was a woman, a woman in a brown cloak and brown dress, and that she is yet in Richmond, but we are sure of nothing else. So far as our efforts are concerned, she might as well be in St. Petersburg as here in the capital city of the South. Perhaps the military can give us a suggestion. What do you think of it, Captain Prescott?"
He turned his keen, cold eye on Prescott, who never quivered.
"I, Mr. Sefton?" he replied. "I have no thoughts at all upon such a subject; for two reasons: first, my training as a soldier tells me to let alone affairs which are not my own; and second, you say this spy is a woman; know then that it is the prayer of every soldier that God will preserve him from any military duty which has to do with a woman, as it means sure defeat."
There was a laugh, and Mrs. Markham asked:
"Do you mean the second of your reasons as truth or as a mere compliment to my sex?"
"Madam," replied Prescott with a bow, "you are a living illustration of the fact that I could mean the truth only."