“That sounded just like Clifford,” she said.
“Certainly it did.” Harriet’s eyes were sparkling now. “I can do Clifford to the life. I can deceive even father if the light be dim. I am going to be Captain Williams to-night, Peggy. Clifford is so cock-sure of himself that he grows insufferable. ’Twill be rare sport to take him down a peg. Did’st notice how he spoke to father? He needs a lesson. And father hath been in service so long that he ought to look up to him.”
“But,” objected Peggy with some excitement, “Clifford will be there on guard. Then how can thee represent him?”
“He will retire early, as he hath already lost much sleep from watching and following after John Drayton. He will sleep until ’tis time to go to the watch, and, Peggy, after Clifford hath lost sleep he always sleeps heavily. He will ask father to waken him, and father in turn will ask me to take note of the time for fear that he might doze. Now I have one of my brother’s uniforms which I brought in this afternoon thinking that there might be need of it. I shall don it, after slipping the key of the hut from Cliff’s pocket. Then, presto! Captain Williams will go to take charge of his prisoner. If it be somewhat before midnight ’twill be regarded as the natural zeal of a young officer.”
“But I see not——” began Peggy.
“If I am the guard with the key in my possession, what doth hinder the door from being opened, my cousin? If I choose to go in to speak to the prisoner of what concern is it to any? Is he not in my charge?”
The girl spoke with such an assumption of her brother’s pompous air that Peggy laughed tremulously.
“I do believe that thee can do it,” she cried. “Harriet, thee is wonderful!”
“Certainly I can do it,” returned Harriet, well pleased with this admiration. “I shall go in and speak to the captain; explain that he is to come out when I let him know that the sentries have passed. When they meet and cross each other there must be a brief time when the front of the dwelling hath but the solitary guard. Once out, however, he will have to rely upon himself. I can do no more.”
“He would not wish thee to, Harriet,” spoke Peggy quickly. “He told me that could he but pass the door and the guard he did not fear but that he could escape.”