The return of Albert was an easy matter. I met a colonel, to whom I delivered him and also the message from our council. The colonel did not seem to know of Albert’s intended mission, for the message puzzled him. I offered no explanations, leaving him to exaggerate it or diminish it in the transmission as he pleased.
When I turned away after our brief colloquy, I saw Kate Van Auken, which was what I had hoped for when I asked the privilege of bringing Albert back. Her paleness and look of care had increased, but again I was compelled to confess to myself that her appearance did not suffer by it. There was no change in her spirit.
“Have you become envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary between the two camps, Dick?” she asked in a tone that seemed to me to be touched slightly with irony.
“Perhaps,” I replied; “I have merely brought your brother back to you again, Mistress Catherine.”
“We are grateful.”
“This makes twice I’ve saved him for you,” I said, “and I’ve brought Chudleigh back to you once. I want to say that if you have any other relatives and friends who need taking care of, will you kindly send for me?”
“You have done much for us,” she said. “There is no denying it.”
“Perhaps I have,” I said modestly. “When I presented Chudleigh to you, you called me a fool. I suppose you are willing now to take it back.”
“I was most impolite, I know, and I’m sorry——”